What type of training is required for a Conservative cantor vs. a conservative rabbi? Is there a standard for either one? Is one more stringent (in reference to religious training) than the other?
I ain’t no expert–bu basically, a cantor is a singer, and a rabbi is a preacher–two totally different professions, but which work together.They train at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
http://www.jtsa.edu
They’re apples and oranges, sort of.
The Jewish Theological Seminary offers both rabbinical and cantorial programs. The difference is coursework. A rabbinical student spends more time on religious issues, including biblical analysis, languages, counseling, etc. A cantorial student studies sacred music, Hebrew, liturgy, musicianship, etc.
Either program sounds academically challenging, but in different ways.
Robin