Born in Israel to American parents, Danny first came to the United States to star on Broadway in Only Fools Are Sad. A playwright, actor, singer, and composer, Danny has served as an evaluator for opera and musical theater at the National Endowment for the Arts.
He has held numerous leadership and creative positions, including:
- Director of the Spielberg Fellowships at FJC
- Spiritual Leader of URJ congregation Agudas Achim in New York
- Artistic Director of the Brandeis-Bardin Institute
- Cantor of Temple Israel of Hollywood in California
Most recently, Danny served as Chazzan and Spiritual Leader of his beloved Makom LA, a dynamic, post-denominational community in Los Angeles. After relocating to the beautiful California desert, Danny was ordained as a rabbi and is now entering his second year as Rabbi/Chazzan at Desert Outreach Synagogue in Rancho Mirage.
Danny’s critically acclaimed off-Broadway musical Wasting Time with Harry Davidowitz, along with his productions Soul on Fire and Let There Be Light, have earned widespread praise. He is one of today’s most respected and beloved composers of contemporary liturgical and synagogue music.
His work has been featured by:
- The American Conference of Cantors
- The Cantors Assembly
- The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra
His compositions are performed worldwide, including recent performances at Disney Hall in Los Angeles by the renowned Pink Martini and at Carnegie Hall by the New York City Youth Chorus.
Danny has also served as Patron Artist of the Avraham Geiger School for Cantorial Arts in Berlin, Germany. His essays, poems, and writings have been included in books by leading Jewish scholars, including Rabbis Larry Hoffman, Kerry Olitzky, and J. Salkin.
He has been featured in multiple documentary films, including the popular Hava Nagila and The Other Men in Black. Danny’s celebrated career spans television (Law & Order, One Life to Live), Broadway, and film. He is the author of three books and recently completed an oratorio about poet Paul Celan.
In addition to his creative work, Danny writes a blog for The Times of Israel and has been a faculty member for esteemed organizations such as Limmud, JCCM, the URJ, and the Wexner Heritage Foundation. He is also active in interfaith dialogue.
A highly sought-after Scholar/Artist-in-Residence, Danny has spent four decades traveling the world—teaching, performing, and reigniting the love of Judaism through Torah, Hassidut, Jewish culture, and the arts.
What people are saying about Danny Maseng’s music from coast to coast and beyond:
- “You are my gold standard for Jewish music.” – Rabbi/Cantor Angela Buchdahl, Central Synagogue, New York
- “An altogether sterling mix of composition genius wed to depth in Jewish learning: High Holy Day music that wonderfully haunts the soul.” – Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, PHD, Author “Naming God; Avinu Malkeinu’ New York
- “Your music is soul-stirring, in part because of your considerable talent and artistry, but deepened and sweetened by your soul, which shines through everything you do.” – Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, DHL Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, American Jewish University, Los Angeles
- “Danny Maseng’s soul music is the essence of the divine. The emanation of the ‘hidden lights’ comes through with each breath out of Danny’s soul. A gift to Olam Ha’Emet.” – Cantor Benjamin (Beny) Maissner, Holy Blossom Temple, Toronto, Canada
- “Danny’s music stirs the soul, ignites the spirit and lights the Jewish spark within us all.” – Cantor Jennifer Frost, B’nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim (BJBE), Chicago, Ill
- “Danny blew everyone away last night! It was the most heart-stopping, tear-inducing, breathtaking performance I have ever witnessed, let alone been honored to be a part of. The diversity of material, depth of knowledge, and breadth of ability was astounding. I speak for more than just myself when I say that we were transported to a magnificent world last night. What an exhilarating gift.” – Myla Wingard
- “Danny Maseng — breathtaking, brilliant, bold. There is no finer Jewish composer, performer, teacher, all-in-one than Danny Maseng. After his most recent concert, a performance of Just Like Home, had ended, the audience wouldn’t leave… They hung around to absorb the resonance of Danny’s voice and guitar before it finally faded. They stayed to feel, just a little bit longer, the power of Danny’s spirit still present in the concert hall. Don’t waste a minute: invite Danny to your community right now. Spend time with Danny and you’ll feel the vitality and power of Judaism as it is meant to be experienced rising within you.” – Dr. Richard Chess Professor, Department of Literature and Language Director, the Center for Jewish Studies at UNCA
- “…it is truly wonderful being with Danny… he is an extraordinary talent, a gifted teacher, a provocative thinker who naturally and beautifully is connecting dots everywhere. He took our community by storm… I love his teaching, his music, and personal time with him…” – Rabbi John Rosove
This special weekend is sponsored by the Past Presidents’ Endowment Fund – a heartfelt thank you for their support.
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