DelawareScene: Cantor Deborah Katchko-Gray

Cantor Deborah Katchko-Gray

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Cantor Deborah Katchko-Gray is a fourth-generation cantor and the second to serve a Conservative congregation. She is the Founder (1982) and Past President of the Women Cantors’ Network. Deborah has served Congregation Shir Shalom of Westchester and Fairfield Counties since l999 and has been honored by the congregation for her 10^th, 13^th and 18^th years. In 2009 She was chosen as one of the Jewish Ledger’s Movers and Shakers in 2009.

She is the first recipient of the Debbie Friedman Miriam Award given by Miriam’s Table Women’s Seder and Chasing Light Speakers.

Her ten recordings and many with the Cantors Assembly Spirit Series are heard on Jewish radio stations and available at cdbaby, oysongs and iTunes. She has published two books:

Katchko-Three Generations of Cantorial Art and Prayerful Creations: Creating an heirloom tallit or challah cover using Swedish Weaving and Jewish design.

Her story is included in “The Invisible Thread- A Portrait of American Jewish Women" . Her archives are preserved with the American Jewish Archives and the National Museum of American Jewish History where two items are on permanent display. Her papers and memorabilia from her years of study with Prof. Elie Wiesel are housed in the Mugar Library at Boston University with the Elie Wiesel Archives. She is currently writing a book about her studies with him; Class Notes: A Lifetime of Learning with Elie Wiesel.

NPR "˜s program The Story for Yom Hashoah in 2009, recorded her reunion with her Holocaust cantorial cousin, “ Finding Family Through Song" and Jewish Broadcasting Service recorded and archived her lecture, Elie Wiesel Story and Song in 2019. Deborah is an active writer with

The Times of Israel Blog and Lilith Magazine. Her workshop on Lessons, Stories and Songs from Elie Wiesel is listed with the State of CT Dept of Education; Resources for teaching about the Holocaust.

She is a cellist with the Danbury Symphony. Her hobbies include sea shell art, biking and walking grand dogs. She is the mother of a growing family, four sons, two stepsons, daughters in laws, and four adorable grandchildren ! She is married to Dr. F. Scott Gray of Somers Orthopedics in Danbury, CT.

www.cantordebbie.com