Cantor Maissner has been cantor and music director of Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto since 1979. He also serves as conductor and music director of "Lachan", Toronto’s Jewish Chamber Choir.
He has degrees from the Hebrew Union College of Sacred Music and Temple University. Renowned for his knowledge of both secular and liturgical music, Cantor Maissner has mastered a variety of musical styles ranging from Jewish Renaissance and early Hebrew Art Music to contemporary Canadian, American and Israeli compositions.
Since his beginnings as a boy cantor with the famous Hazzan Shlomo Ravitz, Cantor Maissner has had a distinguished career. He has been a featured soloist in such theatres as the Mann Auditorium in Tel Aviv, the Jerusalem Theater, and New York’s Carnegie Hall. In 1996 he performed with the San Francisco Symphony under the direction of Michael Tillson Thomas. This concert was in collaboration with the San Francisco Youth Orchestra and the “Grateful Dead.” He has also served as musical consultant for documentaries including To Mend the World and The Man Who Hid Anne Frank.
Cantor Maissner teaches and lectures extensively. In March 2001, he was recognized with an honorary doctorate in music from the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion.
Music of the Cantor Maissner collection, courtesy of Cantor Benjamin Maissner.
