Cantor


A cantor or chanter is a person who leads people in singing, or sometimes in prayer. In formal Christian worship, a cantor is a person who sings solo verses or passages to which the choir or congregation responds.
In Judaism, a cantor is one who sings and leads people in prayer in a Jewish religious service, and may be called hazzan. A cantor in Reform and Conservative Judaism is an ordained clergyperson, similar to that of an ordained rabbi, if the cantor has gone through seminary training or been certified as a "Cantor" from an endorsed seminary.
"Cantor" is used as a translation of equivalent terms in other languages, such as for the leader of singing on a traditional Kerala snake boat, a Chundan Vallam. A similar term is precentor, defined as a leader of the singing of a choir or congregation.
More specific types of cantor include: