I have to agree with my cantorial colleague on this. Yes, her accomplishments were extraordinary, but it does not sound like she had the formal training and investiture that cantors go through in order to become cantors. Neither HUC, JTS, nor AJR were training women to be cantors at that time.
Yes, she served as the musical spiritual leader of the congregation; that is a wonderful accomplishment. But just like there is more to becoming a rabbi than being a spiritual leader, there is more to becoming a cantor. A congregation can refer to someone who has not been ordained as Rabbi, but it does not make them a rabbi; it can refer to someone who has not been invested as Cantor, but it does not make them a cantor.
I have to agree with my cantorial colleague on this. Yes, her accomplishments were extraordinary, but it does not sound like she had the formal training and investiture that cantors go through in order to become cantors. Neither HUC, JTS, nor AJR were training women to be cantors at that time.
Yes, she served as the musical spiritual leader of the congregation; that is a wonderful accomplishment. But just like there is more to becoming a rabbi than being a spiritual leader, there is more to becoming a cantor. A congregation can refer to someone who has not been ordained as Rabbi, but it does not make them a rabbi; it can refer to someone who has not been invested as Cantor, but it does not make them a cantor.