Cantor Aaron Bensoussan
Moroccan born Aaron Bensoussan studied the art of Sephardic Liturgical music with his father and master musicians in Morocco. Part of a Moroccan rabbinic dynasty, his grandfather Rabbi Haim David Bensoussan was the chief Rabbi of Morocco and his great grandfather was one of the most revered rabbis to emerge from the city of Fez. According to the encyclopedia Judaica, the Bensoussan family traces back to Rabbi Yehuda Bensoussan a teacher of Maimonides.
His interest in Ashkenazic music and cantorial music began when he went to New York at the age of 14 to study in Yeshiva……. A graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, he also studied at Yeshiva University Belz School of Music and Queens College. He was fortunate to study with master Hazzanim in both the Ashkenazic and Sephardic traditions; Moshe Ganchoff , Z’l, David Koussevitzky z’l, Noach Schall, Daniel Gildar Z’l, Sammy Amzallag, Z’l and Avraham Ben Haim.
He has performed in concerts and festivals all over the world, including the Jerusalem Theatre in Jerusalem, The Mann Auditorium in Tel Aviv and Carnegie Hall in New York City. One of his most satisfying creative endeavors has been composing music combining Ashkenazic and Sephardic elements with a tapestry of Middle Eastern Rhythms, Jazz, Flamenco and pop grooves masterfully woven together. He believes that one can enjoy a nice schmaltz herring with a spicy cous cous! His most famous composition of L’cha Dodi, is included on the Puntamaya World Music Series “A Jewish Odyssey”, has been sung in synagogues all over the world and countless Cantors and singers have requested permission to record his compositions on their albums. With many cantorial and pop recordings to his credit, Aaron’s repertoire includes his original compositions and Judeo Moroccan classics. The New York Times calling his singing “stout and impassioned”. Aaron Bensoussan has served large and prestigious congregations as Hazzan for 25 years in New York and Toronto and now views the whole world as his bima.
His interest in Ashkenazic music and cantorial music began when he went to New York at the age of 14 to study in Yeshiva……. A graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, he also studied at Yeshiva University Belz School of Music and Queens College. He was fortunate to study with master Hazzanim in both the Ashkenazic and Sephardic traditions; Moshe Ganchoff , Z’l, David Koussevitzky z’l, Noach Schall, Daniel Gildar Z’l, Sammy Amzallag, Z’l and Avraham Ben Haim.
He has performed in concerts and festivals all over the world, including the Jerusalem Theatre in Jerusalem, The Mann Auditorium in Tel Aviv and Carnegie Hall in New York City. One of his most satisfying creative endeavors has been composing music combining Ashkenazic and Sephardic elements with a tapestry of Middle Eastern Rhythms, Jazz, Flamenco and pop grooves masterfully woven together. He believes that one can enjoy a nice schmaltz herring with a spicy cous cous! His most famous composition of L’cha Dodi, is included on the Puntamaya World Music Series “A Jewish Odyssey”, has been sung in synagogues all over the world and countless Cantors and singers have requested permission to record his compositions on their albums. With many cantorial and pop recordings to his credit, Aaron’s repertoire includes his original compositions and Judeo Moroccan classics. The New York Times calling his singing “stout and impassioned”. Aaron Bensoussan has served large and prestigious congregations as Hazzan for 25 years in New York and Toronto and now views the whole world as his bima.