Meet our Artist of the Week, the talented Michael Einav, guest star of our Hanukkah Fiddlin‘ on the Roof concert on December 10th at Birdland Jazz Club! 

We sat down with Michael to hear more about his musical journey, and this is what we learned! 

MT: How did you start singing?  

Michael: My mother always tells this cute story about me at the age of 3 taking rolled socks and a stick and making it into a make-believe microphone… so I guess I was always going to become a performer. I always knew I wanted to be an actor and singer.  

MT: What has it been like performing 8 shows a week in Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish?  

Michael: It is extremely rewarding as it is also very challenging! I need to sleep well and take care of myself. You need to have built your stamina in order to do a 3-hour show 8 times a week! It is my job and I love it.

MT: What was your experience of being in Israeli Idol?  

Michael: It was so long ago… I remember it fondly. It was a fun, teaching, hard, awesome and exciting experience. I got to work with the best professionals in the industry in Israel, and also taste a little fame. It opened doors for me and I’m so lucky to have this sweet memory and documentation of young Michael singing on live TV in front of so many viewers.  

I remember the first live show I did: I was so nervous and nauseous and I felt like I’m about to throw up and all I could think about while singing was “oh my god, the whole country is going to see me vomit on prime time!”. Luckily it didn’t happen 🙂

MT: Do you write music?  

Michael: I do actually, but I just have no time to do it with my acting career. I composed and arranged a few songs and scored for tv in Israel. I also have enough songs I composed for more than a full album I thought I wanted to record after Israeli Idol, but at some point, I realized it was never my dream to be a recording artist. I want to sing in theater and tv mainly. Maybe one day that’ll change… 
MT: What are some of your hidden talents?  

Michael: I used to be a gymnast! And at some point also a gymnastics coach while living in England. My other passion in life is gymnastics, I love it so much and used to be good at it.