A rabbi, a professor and a folksinger walk into a bar’well, not exactly’ The Three Altos’Rabbi Amy Bernstein, professor Paula Pederson and folksinger Sara Thomsen’have walked into many a location and performed their unique music blend to keen audiences. Three Altos will be making their West Coast debut on June 3 at 3 p.m. at Kehillat Israel, 16019 Sunset Blvd. Formed in Duluth, Minnesota, in 2004, the group first performed together at an affordable housing benefit. An eclectic mix of musical influences’country, traditional, folk, spirituals, even a Jewish prayer or two’inform Three Altos’ music. ’We sang, and continue to sing, our hearts and souls to each other and those around us, our hopes and longings for the world, our angst, our joy, our love, our humor, our tears, and most of all, we sing from the well of a deep and abiding friendship,’ Thomsen explains. The trio has performed mostly in and around Minnesota, and even sang with Garrison Keillor at a benefit performance to save the State Theatre in Zumbrota. The largest audience Three Altos has had surpassed 1,000, while the smallest was one: Rabbi Bernstein’s daughter, Eliana. ’Venues tend to be college, university or community performance halls and theaters, as well as temples and churches,’ Thomsen says. ‘Once we played on the steps of the Duluth City Hall for a marriage equality rally.’ Three Altos has even journeyed to Haifa, Israel, to sing at a synagogue. Rabbi Bernstein’s move to Pacific Palisades to join Kehillat Israel in 2010 forced a hiatus. The women have not sung together in public since that time. Thomsen is the main scribe of the group, with her guitar at the ready, though they also sing songs written by others. ‘My original song ‘Wherever You Go’ was written specifically with the voicing of Three Altos in mind, and was a farewell gift to Amy and Eliana,’ Thomsen says. Adds Rabbi Bernstein, ‘I think what might surprise people is how three such different women can work together in such close collaboration with such real ease, true affection and deep joy.’ ’I miss Sara and Paula more than I can begin to say,’ Rabbi Bernstein says. ‘They are truly heart sisters to me and I feel as though a part of my spirit is missing because we are apart. I am looking forward to them coming at the end of May to get ready for our big KI concert.’ Despite critical acclaim for their two albums”Camaradas’ and ‘One Voice”there are no plans to release a third one any time soon. ‘We are friends for life, so there’s no way around the fact that we’ll be getting together for that reason first and then more singing will follow,’ Thomsen said. For more information, visit kehillatisrael.org or threealtos.com. Tickets are $25.
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