Successful: Helena Klein (right) took first place in the national competition “Jugend musiziert” in pop singing. Photo: private
13-year-old Helena Klein from Gaimersheim won first prize in the “Pop Singing” category at this year’s “Jugend musiziert in Ingolstadt” state competition. This also qualified her to take part in the national competition. It took place this year in June in Oldenburg, Lower Saxony, and provided exciting days not only for Helena and her teacher Monika Bernhardt, but also for around 2,300 other young artists from all over Germany.
Helena started in age group III and received an excellent first place with the maximum score of 25 points from an enthusiastic jury. Their program consisted of four different pieces of different styles. In the beginning she sang “My mother told me” (Irish Folk) and “Mercedes Benz” (Janis Joplin). A charmingly funny combination of singing and choreography of Caro Emerald’s “Dr Wanna Do” followed.
At the end she performed the ballad “People help the People” (Birdie), accompanied by Monika Bernhardt on the piano.
Helena began her singing career at the age of six in Bernhardt’s children’s choir and a few years later switched to their smaller pop ensembles for young people.
For two years, the two have been working together regularly in individual coaching.
In the “Jugend musiziert” competition, Helena is already one of the “old hands”. She not only sings, but also plays the violin and has also had success with it in recent years together with students from Bernhardt’s piano class.