Local Talent Shines at Beth Tikvah's Caberet Night

Local singers and musicians entertained the crowd at Congregation’s first Cabaret Night on Saturday, Feb. 5. 

"Let me take you on a journey,” Master of Ceremonies Dennis Lindenberg told the audience, as he introduced high school singers and musicians from .

Kicking off the first set with a performance of the song The Chain, Algonquin students performed a range of numbers during the evening’s two acts as both soloists and in duets. The students demonstrated their versatility by performing covers of pop songs by acts ranging from Green Day to Colbie Caillat.

The first student set was followed by the evening’s featured performers, vocalist Jill Goldman and pianist Bradley Nelson of the Kadima Band. Widely known throughout New England for their repertoire of Jewish music, traditional standards and pop hits, Goldman and Nelson invited the audience to sing along with their first song, James Brown’s I Feel Good. The two musicians mixed Frank Sinatra standards and show tunes with Israeli folk music before a brief intermission and raffle.

The second set opened with two numbers by the Algonquin Regional High School coed a capella band Soulfege, which included an upbeat rendition of Does Your Mother Know by Abba. Goldman and Nelson returned for their final set, taking audience requests and at one point being joined by audience members in a spontaneous Israeli dance.

During intermission, Nelson, a Brockton native and current Massasoit Community College student, told Patch that he had been playing piano in the Kadima Band since 2008. “But Jill makes me look good,” he joked. 

Jill Goldman, who grew up in Natick and now lives in Stoneham, joined the Kadima Band as vocalist six months ago. Jill is a licensed myofascial trigger point therapist who also does voiceover work. “I enjoy singing Jewish music but also pop and jazz. We enjoy the variety…whatever the crowd wants. Brad also makes me look good,” she told Patch with a laugh.

The students featured at Cabaret Night were: Ty Andrus, Casey Cabral, Kate Connolly, Emily DeAngelis, Conor Donovan, Cat Dorian, Sarah Gittins, Rachel Gonsenhauser, Sarah Gonsenhauser, Sara Kendall, Aaron Lindenberg, Jake List, Kelsey Luttrell, Steven Pzianabos, Shayna Solomon, and Xander Teplansky.

Rachel Gonsenhauser, Brad Smith, the Siegel Cultural Fund and Shuki’s also played a role in making the evening a success.