Meet our Artist of the Week – The one of a kind actress and singer Shira Averbuch, who will Narrate and perform in our upcoming season’s Family concerts!
We sat down with Shira to get to know her a little bit better and this is what we learned!
MT: What first attracted you to a career in acting/ singing?
Shira: I’ve been singing since the age of 10, my older brother is a musician and he recognized my gift early on. Choosing music as a career was a different story. When I was a soldier in the Israeli Army, my job was to perform for soldiers. In 2006 a war broke out between Lebanon and Israel and I was sent to perform for soldiers and civilians living in war zones. There was one performance that made me realize why this is what I have to do: We arrived at an underground bomb shelter where about four families were staying with very small children. We sang for them and with them, we told stories and performed skits. We were about to leave and a six year old girl wearing a summer dress covered in butterflies ran up to me and held on to my leg asking me not to leave because I made her feel safe again. We as performers have the gift to make people think and feel effortlessly. I see it as my purpose to use my gifts to touch audiences and individuals with the healing brush of art.
MT: What was your first instrument?
Shira: When I was 7 my mom took me to see the Israeli Philharmonic. She said- “Listen and look at all these instruments and choose the one that speaks to you the most”. I, of course, was memorized by the “big one in the back that was keeping it all together”. The Tuba was too big for 7 yrs old me so I played the Baritone for 3 years. I had a blast. Then came piano, guitar and the Uke. I love discovering new instruments.
MT: How would you describe the feeling of going on stage?
Shira: LIGHT. When I’m on stage I feel connected to the best version of my higher self. It’s enlightenment. A true feeling of purpose.
MT: If you could perform alongside any artist who would it be?
Shira: I’m going to split my answer into three categories because the decision is too hard! Contemporary- Passenger. Legend- Sting. Dead Legend- John Lennon.
MT: What do you love most about working with children audiences?
Shira: Children are the best audience. The are truly FREE. They really experience everything they watch viscerally and they respond that way too. That’s the way live shows should really be.
MT: What would you do if you had to pick a different profession?
Shira: Probably a music therapy. It was my minor when I studied at The New School and I interned at Beth Israel hospital on the lower east side for a few months. It was incredible to witness and be a vessel for the healing power of music.
