Congregation Or Shalom hires full-time cantorial soloist

Congregation Or Shalom in Vernon Hills is proud to welcome Deerfield native Laurie Akers as its new full-time cantorial soloist. Currently a student in a cantorial ordination program, she succeeds part-time cantorial soloists Shelley Orbach and Rhonda Wehner.

Akers began her career at the age of 12, appearing in "Tosca" at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. After earning a degree in musical theater from the University of Michigan, Akers performed in regional and Broadway national touring productions for more than a decade.

In 2002, she began a year of traveling around the world as Miss USO, entertaining veterans and U.S. troops. The following year, she created and implemented a musical program for New York City's Young Adult Institute, which provides recreational opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities.

Upon moving back to Chicago in 2009, Akers became an active volunteer and fundraising performer for the nonprofit breast and ovarian cancer awareness organization Bright Pink. It was during this time that she began her journey to become a cantorial soloist.

In addition to serving as a cantorial soloist and b'nai mitzvah tutor at various congregations throughout the Chicago area, she spent two years as the interim cantorial soloist at Temple Sholom of Chicago. Akers also served as the sh'liach tzibur (prayer leader) and musical director for the Makom organization, which creates opportunities for younger generations to connect to Judaism through worship and community events.

Akers has performed as a concert soloist throughout the country, including a tribute to the "musical rabbi" Shlomo Carlebach in NYC's Carlebach Shul, at the Illinois Holocaust Museum's Kristallnacht commemoration, as well as appearing in Noah Aronson's "The Left Side of the Page" in Orlando, "The Book of Ruth" at Beth Hillel B'nai Emunah with Cantor Alberto Mizrahi and in "Broadway Barks" with Bernadette Peters.

In addition, Akers recently began to compose Jewish music, and her rendition of Oseh Shalom is currently being featured on Jewish Rock Radio. Her Yihiyu L'Ratzon was a finalist in the NewCAJE 2017 Emerging Artists competition.

She also serves as the vice president of Education and Convention for the national Guild of Temple Musicians and is a proud member of the Women Cantors' Network. A fitness fanatic, Akers loves to find ways to incorporate fitness into anything, including teaching Torah trope.

She and her husband, Brad Akers, currently live in Deerfield and enjoy free time singing family favorites like "You Are My Sunshine," "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "Hamilton" tunes to their three sons.

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