Mexico's Adam Kleinberg, 21,
Wins Jewish "Idol" Contest
St. Louis teen, Eitan Kantor makes 'Final 9' in Israel competition


Congrats to Eitan, who made it to the finals in the international Hallelujah Singing Competition in Ramat Hasharon, Israel. First place went to 21 year-old Adam Kleinberg, of Mexico. 
The finals were broadcast live on www.jpost.com. Look for the video on YouTube soon!


Read about Hallelujah winner Adam Kleinberg, a distant cousin of David Ben-Gurion, in The JTA.

(That's Eitan on the far left!)
JTA Reports
Song contest searches for 'next Jewish star’

The winner of Thursday's finals, in which 12 finalists are performing popular Hebrew songs, will receive an $8,000 cash prize and record a duet with an Israeli artist to be broadcast on local radio stations and Jewish radio stations worldwide. - Full story on jta.org

StL Native is Finalist 
in International ‘Jewish Idol’ Contest
Jewish Federation supports Eitan Kantor’s singing passion with $1,500 grant.

This August, 30 Jewish young adults will gather in Israel for the prestigious Hallelujah international singing competition. St. Louis native Eitan Kantor, 19, son of David and Lynnsie Balk Kantor (Focus Israel Chair), will make the 3-week trip to tour and perform in Israel. It will be partially funded by a $1,500 grant from Jewish Federation of St. Louis, said Executive Vice President Barry Rosenberg. 

The competition is sponsored by Meitar, the Association for Fostering Hebrew Songs Among the Jewish People. The winner will receive a scholarship, offers for career advancement, and a contract to perform for Jewish communities around the world. The trip will include singing lessons and rehearsals with top Israeli musicians and culminates with a grand finale performance in the city of Ramat Hasharon, an area between Tel Aviv and Herziliya. The live finale concert will be performed in front of thousands and broadcast on national Israeli television.

Kantor has been a musician his entire life, both singing and playing violin. Locally, he has been a member of the B’nai Amoona Zamarin Youth Choir, directed by Cantor Sharon Nathanson. His talent landed him a coveted spot in the Ranot Vocal Ensemble.

Some of his influences include Moyshe Oysher, Amos Lee, Joni Mitchell, and Mario Lanza. “I think if I were to win the Hallelujah competition it would be because of my more classical voice and my positivity,” Kantor said. His love of music and performance is uninhibited. “I have performed the song ‘Tradition’ on the roof of a cabin at camp and have performed in a movie store.” That movie store performance even scored him a free rental.

As an alum of Solomon Schechter Day School and Clayton High School, the former B’nai Amoona Youth Group member identifies with the St. Louis Jewish community. After spending the past year between high school and college on Kibbutz Lotan in Israel, he has developed a true passion for the environment – one which he looks forward to seeing through at Indiana University. “My time at [Kibbutz] Lotan was the most fulfilling time of my life. I was outside working hard and really felt as though I were working towards a harmonious relationship with nature.”

Kantor is thrilled about the music competition and his return to Israel. He is persistently optimistic and undeniably passionate, “I am just happy to have the opportunity to go to Israel again and breathe the desert air.” If his enthusiasm is any indication, he is sure to shine on stage in Israel.

“We’re thrilled for Eitan and wish him well in the competition. We’re sure he’ll make St. Louis proud,” Rosenberg added.


EITAN'S AUDITION VIDEO

 

Learn more about the Hallelujah competition:
http://www.hallelujah.org.il/