Cantor Sharon Steinberg has been serving congregations as a cantor/cantorial soloist since 1991. She recently completed all the requirements for certification through the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) and the American Conference of Cantors.

Cantor Steinberg began her cantorial work at Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase where she served for seven years. This was followed by one year at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation as the chazzan sheini (second cantor). Family obligations led Cantor Steinberg to Green Bay, Wisconsin in the fall of 2000 where she accepted a position on the music faculty of the University of Wisconsin. In the fall of 2001, Cantor Steinberg joined the clergy staff here at Beth El Hebrew Congregation. It was at that time, that she was accepted into the HUC-JIR’s certification program of self-study toward the professional cantorate.

For Beth El, Cantor Steinberg selects, prepares and leads music for worship services, directs the choirs and oversees all other musical activities for the congregation. Additionally, she is actively involved in adult education and the religious school for which she runs the B’nei Mitzvah program. Cantor Steinberg officiates at life cycle ceremonies and is available for pastoral counseling, hospital and home visits; she works with congregational committees, organizes and directs fund-raising concerts, and participates in social action activities.

In the community, Cantor Steinberg has been a regular guest lecturer/instructor for the Foundation for Jewish Studies, the JCC’s Active Retiree Group, Greenspring Village’s monthly Torah Study and the URJ mid-Atlantic region’s teen leadership development Kallah. For the Keshet pre-school, Cantor Steinberg leads monthly Kabbalat Shabbat worship and sing-a-longs; and for Gesher Day School, Cantor Steinberg has been a visiting clergy on a number of occasions.

Cantor Steinberg is active in the local cantorial association of the American Conference of Cantors. Among its other activities, this organization puts together an adult choir and a youth choir festival each year. Recently, the group organized a fund-raising concert at the new Strathmore Hall which reaped over $20,000 for charity. This past spring, Beth El had the privilege of hosting the area wide Jewish Youth Choral Festival which brought 300 youths from 12 congregations together in song.

Cantor Steinberg was born in Queens, New York. Her passion and talent for singing and music became evident at an early age. She majored in music in college earning both Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Ithaca College and Indiana University respectively. Upon graduation, Cantor Steinberg accepted a position on the faculty of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) teaching voice and other related music courses. During her years at UMBC, she also pursued an operatic career with some success. Her recital debut at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall was met with critical acclaim. While on a European tour, she sang excerpts from Puccini's La Boheme which was recorded for and subsequently broadcast on Italian National Television. Cantor Steinberg has sung lead roles with many opera companies and orchestras around the world.

From 1980-1983, Cantor Steinberg sang in the professional choirs of Chizuk Amuno Congregation and Baltimore Hebrew Congregation. In both congregations, the cantors took notice of Cantor Steinberg and suggested that she consider a career change and study to become a cantor. Cantor Steinberg took their advice and began to study privately.

Cantor Steinberg is an active member in the organizations of her profession. She spent nine years as Vice-President of Membership for the Guild of Temple Musicians. For the Women Cantors' Network, Cantor Steinberg served as newsletter editor and board member. Additionally, she served as one of the guild representatives on the URJ's Commission on Synagogue Music.

Cantor Steinberg is mother to Robert, Daniel and James.