Video, Photos: Piamenta, Amar Win Jewish Star Competition

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jewish-star[Videos and photos below.] An electrifying show with an upbeat audience and some tough calls by the judges on Sunday night concluded Season Two of A Jewish Star international singing competition.

Impressive performances by 10 finalists and 3 junior finalists at Brooklyn School of Music led to continuous deliberations by the 3 judges before announcing the runner-ups and then winners.

They got to be on stage after being chosen from 144 contestants by online music fans at AJewishStar.com in what became a closely watched talent show, the first of its kind in the Jewish world.

A sold-out crowd of people of all ages cheered as the talented newcomers to the music industry sang some of their audition songs (this year no musical instruments were allowed to be played).

Popular entertainer and radio host Country Yossi, who emceed the show, called it the most anticipated Jewish music event in modern times. Over 262,000 votes were cast during the audition period and all eyes now were on the outcome.

Finalists like Hillel Braun of Lakewood, NJ, Ezzy Duchman of Miami, FL, were praised for performing better than their audition videos. Others like Menachem Weinstein of London, UK, and Zalman Levy of Johannesburg, South Africa, had the crowd’s attention.

But Sunday night was about being decisive, and Avraham Fried, Eli Gerstner and Mendy Pellin did just that, not before sugarcoating their critique and asking forgiveness at the end of the show “to whoever might have been offended by our comments.”

When decision time came, they named 3 for standing out in their eyes on stage: Zalman Attal of France with his high pitched chazzanus abilities, Aaron Holder of Miami with the surprisingly thick baritone voice and Mendy Piamenta of Israel, the energetic 16 year-old Yeshiva student.

“During the intermission, each judge had some idea who was his favorite for a winner, but I can say their final decision was certainly swayed by the second round of performances, which surprised the judges too,” an organizer said.

Holder pulled off singing Vezakeini, admittedly not his style of music, and a stiff-looking Attal sang another song. The unexpected moment was Piamenta singing Shwekey’s ‘Vehi She’amda’ and even adding his own twists to it.

And as the night unfolded, the juges annouced Mendy Piamenta, a resident of Kfar Chabad, Israel, who learns in a Yeshiva in Monsey, as the Jewish Star of 5771.

He will be promoted by record label Aderet (MostlyMusic.com) and receiving a 2 year exchangeable car lease from Leasing Direct, $1000 from Tribul Merchant Services, recording time at Ruli Ezrahi studios with advice from Fried.

The stakes and hopes were high in the junior competition too. Yisroel Amar of Golden Beach, Florida, Shmuly Brafman of Morristown, New Jersey, and Akiva Shechter of Miami Beach, Florida, all have unique voices.

When it came to make the call, Amar was chosen for giving a flawless performance according to the judges, all while praising the other two for their abilities. (Gerstner publicly offered Brafman a spot at his Pesach concert).

Amar, son of Chabad Shliach Rabbi Chay Amar, Director of Chabad of Golden Beach, sang Aishes Chayil and dedicated it to his mother who remained at home with his siblings.

He will be joining the Yeshiva Boys Choir (YBC) and receiving 2 tickets to Israel and hotel accommodations sponsored by VIP Israel, $1000 from Tribul Merchant Services and promotion by record label Aderet (MostlyMusic.com).

The show was hosted by the annual Soul II Soul concert which benefits the education of children and adults with special needs. Its directors are Shmuly and Tzirl Goldman.

Producers of A Jewish Star are Mica Soffer – owner of COLlive.com and her husband Yossi Soffer – owner of Unique Advertising Group. Yochi Briskman was the musical director. Yehuda Ceitlin was the creative director.

Organizers thanked Mr. Sam Chanin for his commitment to advancing and developing the competition, and bringing fresh talent to the Jewish music world. Mr. Yossi and Batsheva Popack were the honorary chairs of the event.

Click below for videos:

The Performers – A Jewish Star 2011 from COLlive.com on Vimeo.

Before The Show Interviews from COLlive.com on Vimeo.

See below for photos by Yossi Percia:


{COLLive.com/Matzav.com Newscenter}


11 COMMENTS

  1. Shame on the promoters of this show and quite frankly shame on Matzav for giving them a forum. Have these people no shame? By emulating the goyim in very which way and marketing it as some “Kosher” brand of entertainment is simply misleading. There are so many isurim involved in this concept, from Loshon Hora, to malbim penei chavero barabim, and these organizers do not see these prohibitions? We have thousands of people contributing to this nosense at the events, do they not see something wrong in this?
    Must we encourage our youth to waste their time with this garbage? Where are the Torah competitions? Why are these people sending a message to these children that their goal in life is to be a superstar?

  2. Out of sheer disgust I feel compelled to give my opinion. This bothered me for a few reasons:
    1) The whole idea of singing with a pannel of jugdes comes straight from TV. Its sickening how the goyish entertainment sinks into our world. Many of the music videos were uncannily similiar to those coming from the Hollywood entertainment industry. And dont ask me how do I know that. Kasheh of a Maaseh
    2) During the auditions, the critiques, although subtle, were clearly under the lav of Onaas Dvarim! Klal Yisrael are rachmanim bnei Rachmanim. A young singer, who puts his life and soul into his song, to go through such critique in front of thousands of people is unnacceptable! And the formal apology at the end just doesn’t cut it.
    3) Finally, singing and dancing in Yiddishkeit was always a conduit for Dveikus. I ask you a question, do you see Dveikus here? One of the singers said, “If I could be a part of this..” As if this is a big Mitzva. Who are you fooling? It’s MONEY, MONEY, MONEY! What do you think the Gedolim would say about this, would they agree???
    May Hashem end this Galus,and be zocheh to hear the true shirah of the Leviim, bmheirah vyamainu.

  3. There are no comments because there is nothing to comment about.
    This is Chicaz hagoi and if there would not be such a thing as American Idol, there would not be such a thing as a jewish star!
    And for the record……every jew is STAR!Like the ones in the sky–they shine brightly. Enough said.

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