Image via Wikipedia//Praying at the Kotel, cca. 1900In Judaism, a cantor - also known as a "chazzan" or "hazzan" - is the person who leads the congregation in prayer along with the rabbi.
In the Jewish prayer services, music is playing an important role hence the need for a cantorial school education for those holding this position. But in special situations – such as small communities - the cantors could be simply people from the community with in depth knowledge of the prayer services and melodies, good moral character. At other times, the rabbi might fill the roles of both rabbi and cantor. Volunteer cantors and rabbi/cantor prayer leaders are especially common in small synagogues.
In general, the rabbi and the chazzan are working together to inspire and educate.
In Orthodox Judaism a cantor must be only a male, but in Conservative and Reform Judaism a cantor can be either male or female.
In addition to leading prayer services cantors have a variety of responsibilities which vary from synagogue to synagogue. Often their duties will include teaching bar/bat mitzvah students to read from the Torah, teaching members of the congregation how to participate in prayer services and working with the choir, conducting weddings or funeral services or visiting the sick.
Sources:
http://judaism.about.com/od/glossary/g/What-Is-A-Cantor.htm
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