Shul Sisters from left, Cantors Rachel Goldman, Rachel Brook and Laurie Akers.
Shul Sisters, a trio of American female cantors, will perform in the annual Cantor Irving Shulkes Spring Music Festival at Temple Sinai of North Dade in North Miami Beach on Sunday, April 7 from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Despite their chosen name for the group, the three cantors are not biological sisters, but feel as if they are spiritual sisters.
“We originally met in February 2019 and shared so much concerning faith, singing prayers and the possibility of working together as a group. Honestly, we became close over the last five years so the appropriate name for our group is ‘Shul Sisters,’” said Cantor Laurie Akers, who not only sings but composes music as well.
From left to right, Cantors Rachel Brook, Cantor Laurie Akers and Cantor Rachel Goldman as Shul Sisters performing at the International Lions of Judah Concert in 2021.
When she is not part of the Shul Sisters trio, Akers is Cantor of Congregation Or Shalom in suburban Chicago. Her singing partners are Cantor Rachel Brook, the first female and senior cantor at the 150-year-old Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago and Cantor Rachel Goldman of Congregation Beth Yeshurun in Houston.
Shul Sisters will be performing 20 songs in the concert. Many of the songs are Hebrew prayers that are chanted by the three cantors when they conduct religious services for their congregations on Shabbats and Jewish holidays. Other songs to be performed will come from The Great American Songbook and original songs composed by Akers.
Shul Sisters, all sopranos, will sing mostly in three-part harmonies, but will also do solo sequences in the songs.
Rachel Brook
“We want everyone attending to be entertained, uplifted by the spiritual prayers and be moved by Laurie’s (Akers) beautiful songs,” says Goldman.
The song “Stand Strong” written by Akers in 2018 will be one of many highlights of the Shulkes Music Festival. The song with a message of seeking unity among different faiths and culture, was first performed in 2020 by Akers in collaboration with many Chicago-based cantors and singers from the Illinois based Bright Star Church.
“I am very proud of the impact of ‘Stand Strong’ and the song has been performed as an anthem for many social justice programs throughout the country. The lyrics ‘when we sing one song, we stand strong, we are not alone’ are powerful,” says Akers.
Laurie Akers
Among the spiritual Hebrew prayers to be performed by Shul Sisters will be “Hashkiveinu," “Ivdu Et Hashem,” “Oseh Shalom,” and “Shiru L’Adonai.”
Songs from The Great American Songbook to be performed include “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “Do Re Mi” and “Over the Rainbow.”
Rachel Goldman
Joining in the performance with Shul Sisters will be Temple Sinai of North Dade Cantor Norman Cohen-Falah, the adult choir Kol Sinai and the Temple Sinai Youth Choir.
“Our annual spring musical festival is in honor of our esteemed Cantor Irving Shulkes, who is now Cantor Emeritus. I met the Shul Sisters at many conferences I attended and know that our congregation will be moved by their performance,” says Cohen-Falah.
Shul Sisters first performed at the Park Avenue Synagogue in New York in 2010 for the installation of Brook as Senior Cantor of the congregation. Although they have never recorded an album together, they have become popular through their numerous music videos and the shulsisters.com.
Although Shul Sisters are booked at numerous Jewish conferences throughout the United States over the past four years, the cantors do not want to leave their jobs as cantors to tour full time.
“Being a cantor is not a job, it it a calling. I grew up in California, loving opera, but being a cantor is more fulfilling and spiritually more endearing. I am disciplined to know that I was sing, I lead a congregation in praying to God, helping our congregation to be healed from sorrow and to be joyous as well,” says Goldman.
Akers, who was born and raised in Illinois, was at first inclined to have a career in musical theater, but, like Brook and Goldman, felt that the spiritual calling of becoming a cantor would be more fulfilling.
“I love music and performing, but it is the feeling you get when you help lead a congregation through prayer, uplifting spirits and helping congregants seek comfort through our spiritual songs that make my work memorable,” says Akers.
Akers’ musical compositions have been published in seven liturgical anthologies. She has also of the Jewish Rock Radio Chicago and often assembled Chicago-based cantors to perform together in congregations
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Cantor Irving Shlkes Spring Musical Festival with the Shul Sisters, a trio of three American female cantors.
WHERE: Temple Sinai of North Dade, 18801 NE 22nd Ave. in North Miami Beach.
WHEN: 5 to 6:30 p.m., Sunday, April 7
TICKETS: $30 for adults, $20 for students 18 and under and free For children under age four. Tickets for patrons who are invited to a pre-concert cocktail reception at 4:30 p.m. and VIP seating are $54.
INFORMATION: tsnd.org/event/shulsisters or call 305-932-9010.
