An all new Season Two of “A Jewish Star” – the world’s first Jewish music singing competition – was launched today with many seeing the contest as the next obvious step in the recent evolution of the Jewish music industry.
Career musicians and music enthusiasts from around the U.S., Canada, South America, Israel, Europe and even former Soviet countries like Azerbaijan were captivated last year by the possibility of discovering the world’s next singing sensation.
“I think it’s amazing that you are giving young people a chance to connect to Torah and Jewish music,” the legendary composer Yossi Green gushed about Season 1, which attracted over 50 auditions and 61,893 votes cast online.
The winner was Binyamin Moshe, a Brooklyn yeshiva student, who recently had his self-composed single “Romemu” recorded and produced by famed music producer Ruli Ezrachi and with music by the renowned Freilach Orchestra.
Semi-finalists Avraham Ohayon and Shuki Sadon were in high demand as entertainers ever since they made it to the finals and performed live at the show.
A number of other contenders also found fame after entering the competition, some of whom are now household names.
With Season Two beginning, and a parallel A Jewish Star Juniors race being added to the contest for boys ages 8 – 14, the anticipation is skyrocketing. Who will audition this round, who will be the public’s favorite and what will the judges say?
The deadline for auditions is Dec 21, 2010. Finalists will perform at a live show on February 20th in Brooklyn, New York.
A Jewish Star was created and is executive produced by Mica Soffer, owner and publisher of Community News Service COLlive.com and Yossi Soffer, owner of Unique Image Advertising. Yehuda Ceitlin is the creative director.
The unparalleled superstar of Jewish music Avraham Fried who has been inspiring audiences for the last 30 years will once again assume the mantle of a judge on A Jewish Star, contributing his wise and astute insight as he did in Season 1.
Joining him once again will be Chassidic comic Mendy Pellin, who admits he has “zero knowledge in music” but is well versed in the entertainment business. He was recently spotted on set filming for a Hollywood sports movie.
A new addition to Season Two’s judges panel is Eli Gerstner, the multi-talented Jewish singer, songwriter and producer who is responsible for the successes of the Yeshiva Boys Choir, The Chevra, Menucha, Dovid Stein, Tek-noy, and the Yosis Orchestra.
For more info and to audition visit: www.aJewishStar.com
A Jewish Star on facebook: facebook.com/JewishStar
A Jewish Star on twitter: twitter.com/ajewishstar
go avrham fried
We need more time!
just read the instructions and ask ur mum to help u! good luck kiddo!
I really thing that the kogan twins should try, they’re so cute!
You’re totally right! Please, COLlive, could you ask MBD to be a judge?
Also, I agree with #36. Gershon Shapiro and Choni Grunblatt have extremley good voices, please ask them to join once more.
Thank you.
how do you sign up.
The word is that Gershon Shapiro will go for it again (heard on Facebook). I can’t wait to hear what song he will sing this time. I hope AF takes it a easy with him this time around. Let’s NOT chase away GREAT talent please.
Good one….
i sing opera professionally but have not been able to preform for a while i would love to audition but nebach all the others wont even stand a chance so i think i wont even try but maybe
I hope to see profesional comments coming from the judges, focusing on the singing, if this is what the competition is about.
and show that they have a clear view on what they are looking for, and keep it till the end. nigunim-no nigunim, singing or presence, charisma…etc
Does anyone know when they announce the 10 semi finalists?
The winner will receive:
A single Jewish song of their choice produced at producer Ruli Ezrachi’s Studio in Brooklyn, with music.
The winner will also receive coaching by Avraham Fried for the single.
Finally, the winner will receive a $1000 cash prize.
he sang emotional soung
yeah its right………………….i want to sing soooooo badly but there is no competition! i think i’m gonna go on america’s got talent………jk (maybe)
its really not fair that they dont have star singers for girls/women… really NOT fair!
🙂
This is a great opportunity for wannabe singers. I wish to see some great new talent this year. No offense but not everyone from last year were on par but certainly the semi-finalists should give it another try. I would suggest the following changes to them: 1) Choni Grunblat A great sweet voice. This time invest in your video a little more Judges did judge not just the voice). 2) Blesofskey Let us hear your voice and don’t mask it this time. 3) Gershon a great and powerful voice this time show your personality more and try to be comfortable… Read more »
I think Mordechai Ben David is the King of Jewish Music for sure! He has a gorgeous voice and seems like he would be a gentle judge and a real mentch. Not saying anything against anyone else, I think he would be an asset. Isn’t it open for anyone who wants to enter? Yeshivish, Chassidish, S’fardish – no one says they can’t enter, so pass it along! I love this contest and since I am partial to Blesofsky’s (related to one) – go win some!
is it that the y alwys have to p[lay a few notes of piano before introducing themselves??
sooo nerdy!
thats so mean yes we do we love boruch shalom
Please ask the extremeley talented Gershon Shapiro and Conoi Gruntblat to give it a secoond try. I am a HUGE FAN of both their voices. I wish icould hear them again and hopefully both live as finalists. They were both my favorite nit they were both mosjuged and mistreated. I wish they go for it again and you get a chance to correct the misjustice. It is simply a crime to let such singing talent go to waste.
im forsure winning
Totally Right! must be sensitive to the children who are in the contest! Children need to be told only good about themselves!! (unless being disciplined)
I think you should have incentives for the all the contestants and finalists, not just for the winner.
no wi dontttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt
love the competition, very excited, but I do agree with others. mendy pellin should be an MC not a judge. You get the same pellin value from hid MCing the ENTIRE competition, not just the show. he can host the videos, etc. but he has no place on a judges panel deciding MUSIC. Come on .. and this is NOT a knock on pellin, he says himself on his facebook. he knows nothing about music. He should be hosting.
Me and my DEAR friend are going for the kids’ Jewish star!
WER’E WINNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i think the the semi finalist should sing a 2nd song for the semi finals
i hope blesofsky runs again!!!
The winner gets a spot in YBC and wins 1000 dollars in cash.
The winner gets a spot in Yeshiva Boys Choir and wins $1000 cash.
Do any of the other finalists win anything, or just the winner?
Are there any grants or discounts available at studio’s to be able to fund the video and the music?
last year was amazing
and I hope this year will be even better
good luck to everyone!
and they must include the three songs.
1 ‘Im Atem Meshamerim,’
2 “Tell It To Them.”
3 ‘Yevonim.’
azkir al hatzion – bli neder
at least AF knows music!! MP should stick to the talking!! COLLIVE please listen to your supporters!! or put up a vote
Thats a great Idea!
The prizes are on the website it u go to ajewishstar.com it says what it is. I think its something with a song and avraham fried also I remember it said a thousand dollars
What is the Prize?
Does the finalist win anything besides the concert, do the last 3 win anything, and how about the final 10?
I hope you join this year I can’t wait to see what you’ve got in store.
a big fan, MR
Sooo excited sounds great 3 judges they r gr8!!!
Hatzlacha to all the contestants!!!!
Ps it was amazing last year Avraham Fried WOW the singing was amazing Negunim came Aliveeeee Thank uuuu
I think that this competition should go much more beyond Lubavitch, how about litvish, chassidish, sfardish?? I think this would be great for the entire frum communitites.
Glad there’s an encore. Wonderful outlet for chassidshe bachurim to express their talent and great entertainment for the viewer. Gut Yom Tov, Gut Shabbos
can i join can i join can i join!!!!!
Wahooooo! Can’t wait! Jewish star rocked last year!!!!!!!
everyone wants baruch shalom….!!
You raised a very good point and from what I understand the judges will not be speaking about the kids competition and there won’t be comments at all about them for the exact reason you mentioned
I just hope that they screen comments about what people think about the kids and only let positive ones go on. And I hope that the judges will also be nice and sensitive to the kids. It could kill a child’s self esteem if they will be treated like the adults last year.
Looking forward but please don’t ruin our special talented Kinderlach.
what do you get for winning?
i understand publicity.. but theoretically for sure the top 3 get equeal ‘fame’…
unless there is a specific prize. maybe COL sponsoring his cd or something..??
when are the Blesofsky brothers coming out with an album??????
What is the reward, I think if you make it a bit better than last year it will increase the competition.
The judging by them both were not good. I guess nothing learned.
cant wait. smart of you to add the juniors….
hatzlacha
After last year they still take Mendy Pelin and A. Fried as judges … ?
Okay. Why doesn’t Mendy Pellin and Benny Friedman switch places??? I think, Benny knows more about music and would be good on the judging panel; and Pellin, is better at public speaking and he would be great at MCing the soul to soul concert. And not to mention that he’s a pretty funny guy, it would spice up the concert!
PS) Eli Gerstner will be a lot more interesting to watch than that other guy they had on last year (Michoel Streicher??)…
Really looking forward to this year’s contest!
looks like its gonna be amazing!