Red-haired Brett Loewenstern charmed the judges at his audition on American Idol and blew them away when he began to sing, but his performance was no surprise to anyone who knew him from JCC Maccabi ArtsFest®. The Boca Raton teen participated in several JCC Association teen arts programs beginning in 2007 and showed off his spectacular talent right away. “We were shocked to hear that voice coming out of a really small 13-year-old,” said Arlene Sorkin, former director of JCC Maccabi ArtsFest. At 16, Brett is now much taller, but his singing voice still has the power to amaze.
JCC Maccabi ArtsFest offers Jewish teens from 13-17 the opportunity to follow their passion for the arts while they enjoy a week of fun and friendship. The program offers home hospitality, an intensive workshop experience, as well as a gala final performance. Different art specialties have included music, dance, film, broadcast journalism, photography, musical theater, visual art, and even culinary arts. JCC Maccabi ArtsFest has been held in communities all over the U.S., and 2011 will see the first ArtsFest ever in Israel! Israeli artists will work with North American teens in music, photography, dance, food preparation, and more.
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