Chazan Netanel ‘Nati’ Baram, Vocalist
Chazan Netanel ‘Nati’ Baram is a native of Jerusalem. His father teaches music, and his mother is a professional artist. Both his parents imbued him with a love of music from a very young age.
The turning point in Nati’s life came when he first attended services at the Jerusalem Great Synagogue. As he listened to the inspiring prayers chanted by the world-renowned Chief Cantor of the Great Synagogue, Naftali Herstik, accompanied by the magnificent choir conducted by Elli Jaffe, Nati made the life-changing decision that he, too, wanted to be a Chazzan.
Following his High School graduation, Nati continued his Torah studies at Yeshivat Ateret Yisrael, and then at Yeshivat Mercaz Harav Kook. He also began to study chazzanut at the Tel Aviv Cantorial Institute, where he was personally guided by its Dean, Naftali Herstik, as well as the composer and musician, Raymond Goldstein, and other master teachers. His musical talents and skills were further developed by his father, and by Maestro Elli Jaffe.
Nati has been a featured soloist at many concerts of the Tel Aviv Cantorial Institute all over the world. For some years he was also a member and soloist of the Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir, and has served as guest Chazzan at that synagogue on several occasions.
During the past few years, Nati has officiated as guest Chazzan at many world-renowned synagogues, from Capetown, South Africa to Zurich, Switzerland, to Melbourne, Australia, and all over the United States. He has appeared as a soloist with the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, the Kibbutz Lavi Music Festival, and at the Berlin Jewish Festival.
Nati moved to the United States in 2009, together with his wife Carmit, to serve as the cantor at Beth Jacob Congregation in Beverly Hills. In 2012 he was appointed cantor at Beverly Hills Synagogue, where he not only presides over the Shabbat and Yomtov prayers, but also organizes regular musical events and concerts for the wider Jewish community of Los Angeles. He lives with his wife and 4 gorgeous daughters in the heart of Beverly Hills.