About Margaret

Margaret’s  spiritual journey to become a Cantor grew out of a connection to Jewish music and a desire to be of service. She strives to be a fun and inspirational teacher, a spirited performer and a good listener.

Margaret currently serves as part-time Educator and Cantor for Temple Beth El in Salinas as well as teaching Hebrew at Congregation Beth Israel, Carmel Valley, California.

She is an officiant for Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremonies, Weddings, Funerals/Memorial services and other life cycle events.

Locations Served

The greater bay area from Santa Rosa to Santa Barbara and in-between, including Carmel, Big Sur, Santa Cruz, San Jose, the East Bay, San Francisco and Marin County.


Music highlights from the "Music to Warm Your Hearts" Cantor Bruner Concert.

"I have had the privilege to work with Margaret as a musician and have enjoyed collaborating with her on concerts. She is a very special individual with the ability to make people feel comfortable in any situation."
 

Praised for her clear soprano voice, Margaret Bruner began voice lessons at the age of 14. She first specialized in Early Music performing Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque music with numerous ensembles on the West coast. She continued vocal studies at California State University Hayward (CSUEB). After receiving a Masters Degree in Early Music from Indiana University, she applied to Cantorial School at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City. Thesis topic, The Sacred Music of the Great Synagogue of Livorno in the Nineteenth Century. She became an ordained Cantor in 2000, graduating with a Masters in Sacred Music.

Margaret first gained experience at Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco with mentor Cantor Roslyn Barak. In New York she was a Cantorial Intern to Cantor Bruce Ruben of Temple Sha’aray Tefillah in Manhattan. From 2001-2009 she was the Cantor for Congregation Ahavath Chesed in Jacksonville, Florida. She was a tireless worker, remembered by her congregants for her dedication and sense of humor. 

Concerts & Music Programs

  • Music to Warm Your Heart -Yiddish Art songs and Broadway Melodies 
  • “A Night in Old New York” -Popular Musicals & Cantorial Show Pieces
  • “Sephardic Love songs” -Ladino Music from the Judeo-Espagnol tradition 
  • “Chanukah Around the World” -Festive Children’s Songs 
  • “Judas Maccabeus” An Oratorio by Georg Friedrich Handel

Classes, Workshops & Cantor-in-Residence Programs

  • “What is Jewish Music?” -A three part series
  • “The Journey Continues” -the Music of Debbie Friedman
  • Sisterhood Retreats; including teaching music, journaling, yoga and Women’s Torah studies 
  • Women’s Passover Seders
  • Cantor-in-Residence  Programs
  • Women’s Healing Services
  • Adult Education in Torah Cantillation and Jewish Music & Art

Community Events

  • Guest speaker at World Religions Classes
  • Eyes Wide Open: An Exhibition of the Iraq War Memorial Service
  • Interfaith Thanksgiving Services
  • Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Remembrance Programs  with Unitarian, Baptist, and Greek Orthodox churches to name a few
  • Yom Hashoah and Kristallnacht observances
  • World Aids Day
  • Interfaith Healing Services
  • Carmel Jewish Film Festival
  • Jewish Food Festival