Temple Beth Ohr in La Mirada welcomed Kyle Cotler to the pulpit as cantorial soloist for the congregation in July. In his current position guitar-toting Kyle, “brings energy, excitement, and charisma to our ever-changing modern Jewish Community where he continues to write and perform new upbeat liturgical music,” according to Rabbi Mark Goldfarb.
Cantor Cotler comes from a long line of cantors. His grandfather, the late Cantor Ted Cotler, began his career in Ventura. Kyle’s father, Cantor Doug Cotler, is a Grammy Award-winning composer; an accomplished singer, songwriter, and musician; and a cantor in Calabasas. Kyle’s younger brother and son of Doug, Noah Cotler, graduated magna cum laude from Indiana University in classical music performance as a bassist and currently is a teacher at the Southern California Piano Conservatory in Woodland Hills.
Cantor Cotler recognizes that his immersion in Jewish music began at a very young age. He explained, “As I would lie in bed at night, I would stay up late listening to my Father practice and compose. My spirituality grew as I attended Kadima Hebrew Academy and went to a variety of Jewish camps including JCA Shalom, URJ Swig, and Newman. I graduated to head songleader at Camp Hess Kramer in Malibu in 2008 and URJ Camp Kalsman in 2009.”
Cantor Kyle Cotler made his debut on the national Jewish stage with two original musical pieces at CAJE, a Jewish educators convention in Vermont, and later in Toronto at the Union for Reform Judaism Biennial convention last year.
Cantor Cotler received his B.A. in Music Theory and Composition from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington and has served as Music Specialist at Congregation Kol Tikvah in Woodland Hills, and a Religious School teacher at Congregation Or Ami in Calabasas, and Cantorial Soloist at Temple Beth Israel in Fresno and at Shaarei Am in Santa Monica.
Temple Beth Ohr’s new cantorial soloist will join his father and brother in a benefit concert for Chanukah on Saturday, December 4, at 7:30 p.m. at the Reform congregation. The cost of the concert, aptly titled “The Three Cotlers,” is $36 per attendee ($50 at the door) with children under 10, free of charge. (See Chanukah Happenings for details.)
Temple Beth Ohr, located at 15721 E. Rosecrans Ave. in La Mirada, is a member congregation of the Union for Reform Judaism and has been in existence for more than 50 years. Temple Beth Ohr welcomes singles, seniors, and families of all compositions. For more information, please contact Rabbi Mark Goldfarb, (562) 691-2551, (714) 521-6765, tmplbthohr@aol.com, or www.templebethohr.com
Kyle Cotler has been a fabulous addition to our temple. The kids look up to him — okay he’s really tall — but they follow him and squeal with delight when he gets out his guitar and sings with them. One 3 year old calls him “guitar man”, another kindergardener chooses to attend Tot Shabbat and stay for the regular service, sitting in the front seat so he can see Cantor Kyle.
We are so lucky to have such an energetic and enthusiastic Cantorial Soloist.