A recent immigrant from Canada on Saturday scaled to the top of one of Israels most popular reality shows: Kathleen Reiter, 23, won the first season of The Voice, the hit talent show adapted from a U.S. show of the same name, which pits contestants, divided into teams, against each other until a winner is crowned. The Israeli versions format departed from traditional song competitions in that contestants were assigned vocal coaches, or mentors to guide them throughout the show. These are well-known performers who handpick their teams during a blind audition in which they only get to hear the would-be contestant. At the end of each of the shows 20 episodes, the mentors, along with the audience at home, decide who is eliminated and who advances to the next round. The show culminates in a head-to-head competition that features only four representatives - one from each mentor - vying for the top slot.
At Saturdays final, Reitner edged out runner up Raz Shmueli after viewers rendered their final verdict.
Reiter stood out in the audition phase after her rendition of Adeles Rolling in the Deep, prompted all four mentors to vie for her to join their team. She eventually chose Sarit Hadad, a widely popular Israeli singer, as her mentor.
At Saturdays final, Reiter came full-circle when she chose Set Fire to the Rain, also by Adele, as one of her numbers. Yet one of her most memorable performances during the season was her performance of a song written especially for her by Sahar Haggai and Nitzan Kaikov, called Tzoeket Lecha (Calling to You).
Saturdays competition between Reiter and three other contestants eventually boiled down to her and Shmueli, whose mentor was singer Aviv Geffen.
Reiters parents both emigrated from Israel more than 30 years ago and own a company that supplies bunker fuel for maritime vessels. The aspiring musician began taking music classes at age 12, becoming a fan of Alicia Keys and Adele. She was also exposed to Stevie Wonder, Prince and Michael Jackson as a child, while the latter was reportedly her idol for a time.
According to the shows website, Reiter decided to stay in Israel last year after a short summer visit, and she was determined to fulfill her dream of becoming a singer and to pursue a masters degree.
She is currently the lead vocalist in a band named for her late grandfather, who first introduced her to music. As the winner of the show, she was awarded an international recording contract by its producers.
טעינו? נתקן! אם מצאתם טעות בכתבה, נשמח שתשתפו אותנו