Who will be crowned champion at Jews Got Talent?

A singing doctor, a comedian “old enough to know better” and a singer who began performing aged two are among the line-up for Sunday’s Jews Got Talent.

Nine talented acts will show off their skills at the live finals this weekend in front of a panel of stellar judges, including music producer Harvey Goldsmith, who has worked with major artists including Queen, Elton John, U2, Madonna and The Rolling Stones, Geoff Posner, producer and director of TV hit series Little Britain and Come Fly With Me and impressionist Francine Lewis, a former Britain’s Got Talent finalist.

Jewish News editor Richard Ferrer rounds off the judging panel at the event, hosted by writer Ivor Baddiel and presented by the Hebrew Order of David for Jewish Care.

So without further ado, let’s meet this year’s contestants for Jews Got Talent!

 

Singer  Charlotte Kurash

Age: 16

School: JCoSS

Do you belong to a shul? Barnet United Synagogue

What makes your act different from others? I am a classical singer, not a pop artist.

For how long have you been performing? 12 Years.

What motivated you to audition for JGT? I have a Jewish mother!

Do you think you can win?  Yes, but performing in front of an audience is the best reward.

What’s the big dream? To get a music degree and use my music to help and entertain others.

 

Drummer Joel Felsenstein

Age: 27

Occupation: Musician and drum tutor

Do you belong to a shul? Borehamwood and Elstree United

What makes your act different from others? You don’t see many drummers in talent shows, but it’s easy to learn.

For how long have you been performing? 20 years.

What motivated you to audition for JGT? I want to inspire others to learn the drums.

Do you think you can win? If the audience enjoy it, that’s what empowers me to keep going.

What’s the big dream? A professional musician in Hollywood.

 

 

Singing comedian Rosalyn Miller

Age: 34

Occupation: GP

Do you belong to a shul? Barnet United Synagogue

What makes your act different from others? I have written an original comedy song and accompany myself on the piano.

For how long have you been performing?  Since I was a kid.

What motivated you to audition? My mum told me to.

Do you think you can win? I would love to, but mainly I hope people will enjoy my performance.

What’s the big dream? I’m releasing my EP on Spotify. It would be amazing to hear my songs on the radio and do regular gigs.

 

 

Double Twist Dance Company

Ages: 20 to 30

Occupations: Dancers and choreographers.

What makes your act different from others? We tell a story through movement.

How long have you been performing together for? The company was formed in 2013. Some of the dancers in this piece have been in the company since it started, and others are new.

What motivated you to audition for Jews Got Talent? We wanted to find theatre opportunities and promote what we do.

Do you think you can win? Yes – we tell a story through our bodies and believe we are the only act to do this.

What’s the big dream? We would love to perform our ballet contemporary production in other top London theatres.

 

 

Comedian Neil Ben

Age: Young enough to still have my own teeth, old enough to know better. I’ll be 57 at the final.

School/Occupation: Yes, I went to school and I occupy myself. I also happen to be a BAFTA nominated producer and director.

What makes your act different from others? I’m in it!

For how long have you been performing for? I don’t feel I’m a performer. I just stand on stage chatting and telling stories to the audience and most of the time they laugh.

What motivated you to audition for JGT? The Jewish community deserve to see my comedy. After all, they’re used to suffering.

Do you think you can win? I certainly have a talent. What for I am not sure. But I’ll give it my best shot.

What’s the big dream? I’ve written a romantic comedy feature film I hope to have produced. If anyone has a spare £5million to invest, it has the potential to make a massive difference in the world.

 

Dancer – Francesca Vella

Age: 9

School:  Frith Manor Primary School

Do you belong to a shul? Mill Hill East Synagogue

What makes your act different from others? I do my own choreography on all my dances.

For how long have you been performing? Since I was three.

What motivated you to audition for JGT? I thrive on challenge and my mummy made me audition!

Do you think you can win? Absolutely. Miracles happen!

What’s the big dream? Definitely Hollywood!

 

 

Singer Suzanne Noble

Age:  58

Occupation: Co-founder of social enterprise Advantages of Age

What makes your act different from others? I perform jazz and a very particular style of blues from the 1920s to 1940s.

For how long have you been performing? I was a session singer and performed with a band in my 20s. I returned to singing semi-professionally in 2018.

What motivated you to audition for JGT? I thought it would be fun and make my parents proud.

Do you think you can win? If I didn’t think I could win, I wouldn’t have auditioned. I hope everyone feels this way.

What’s the big dream? I perform with my pianist George Webster. Our ambition is to get a booking agent and play bigger venues such as the Pheasantry, Crazy Coqs and the 606 Club.

 

 

Singer Joel Brahams

Age: 11

School: JCoSS

Do you belong to a shul? New North London Synagogue

What makes your act different from others? I am told I sing with an unusual amount of emotion for a boy my age. I have been known to move adults to tears when they hear me sing.

For how long have you been performing? Since I was two. I started singing ballads when I was three and remember singing Rolling in the Deep by Adele.

What motivated you to audition for JGT? I thought it could boost my career in the Jewish community.

Do you think you can win? Yes, because there are not that many boys my age singing songs of my musical genre.

What’s the big dream? Absolutely Hollywood! I am aiming for the top. I will know I have done what I set out to do when my picture is on the walls of L’Artista in Golders Green.

 

Comedians Helen Abrahami (left) and Linda Josephs 

Age: Linda is 69 and Helen is 68… although we act as 35-year-olds!

Occupation: Linda is a marketing and sales whizz and Helen is a secretary and personal assistant.

Do you belong to a shul? Edgware United Synagogue.

What makes your act different from others? Our act is very comic and taps into reality, which people can associate with. We manage to complement each other and is excellent for its timing and content, with Helen’s knack to choreograph and direct.

For how long have you been performing? We have performed together over the years and are members of Grosvenor Players, performing murder mysteries at Edgware, Yeshurun and Kenton shuls.

Do you think you can win? We work very well together
and think we could just win.

What’s the big dream? To be on the stage and act. Hollywood would be nice, because as Brits we would be appreciated there for true English comedy, being able to do almost any accent or character.