Cantor Azi Schwartz, a world-renowned singer and recording artist whose music reaches Jewish and interfaith audiences around the world, has been serving the Park Avenue Synagogue community since 2009, following distinguished predecessors, including Cantor David Lefkowitz. He has an online following with over 25 million views, and his performances have been described as emotionally moving, spiritually uplifting, and artistically dynamic.
Growing up in Israel, Cantor Schwartz was inspired by his grandfather, also a cantor, to pursue his passion for singing and music. After graduating from Tel Aviv Cantorial Institute, he earned a master’s in classical singing and conducting from Mannes School of Music in New York City.
Cantor Schwartz has built a global hub for worship and original liturgical music at Park Avenue Synagogue and has helped transform PAS into a model for innovative Judaism by seeking to shape Jewish practice for the 21st century.
Passionate about bringing Jewish liturgy to the broader world, he performs in concerts internationally and has released more than 18 albums of traditional and new Jewish liturgical music. Cantor Schwartz has performed at Carnegie Hall, the United Nations, Madison Square Garden, the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, and the Israeli Knesset.
He was featured in the 2018 PBS special The New York Cantors, which brought cantorial music to millions of viewers in the United States and Europe.
During Pope Francis’ 2015 visit to New York City, Cantor Schwartz represented the Jewish people at the multi-religious service at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. He played the cantor’s role in Richard Gere's 2016 movie Norman. Cantor Schwartz helped produce 2024’s Shabbat on Broadway, the first Jewish worship service on Broadway, at the St. James Theatre.
Dedicated to cultivating the next generation of cantors, Cantor Schwartz has served on the faculty of all major cantorial schools and as an officer for the Cantors Assembly.
Cantor Schwartz and his wife, Dr. Noa Schwartz, have four children.