Ilene Safyan is a Pittsburgh transplant, and almost an Oregonian. (She’s been here for over 30 years!!) During that time, she’s been involved in music throughout Portland’s Jewish community, serving as cantorial soloist for Congregations Havurah Shalom and Neveh Shalom and teaching at schools throughout the area. She is currently Music Coordinator for Havurah Shalom.

In addition to her singing and teaching of voice, Ilene composes and arranges music. In 2010, she became a Shalshelet Composer when her song “Petah Lanu Sha’ar” won an award in the Shalshelet International Music Competition. Combining her skills as performer and educator, Ilene has recorded six CDs of Jewish music with friend (and Havurah member), Margie Rosenthal. Two of her CDs, “Just in Time for Chanukah” and “Where Dreams are Born,” were awarded Parents’ Choice Gold and Silver Medals for excellence in children’s recordings.

Ilene brings a passion for music and a wealth of experience to the music coordinating position at Havurah. She has been a featured presenter and performer at national CAJE (Coalition for Alternatives in Jewish Education) conferences. Her music is featured in publications, Jewish sound archives, and in radio programs around the country. She is married to Mark Rosenberg and has two children, Arielle (currently in Rabbinic School at Hebrew College) and David (soccer coach and ski instructor in Portland, Oregon).

Visit her website at www.ilenesafyan.com for more information and to hear her recordings.