Isabell www.isabellishtar.com Official Website
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Biography
Isabell Ishtar Michael was born in June 1998 to Assyrian parents, Samir Michaels and Marina Benjamin. She has a younger brother named Antonio Sargon who is now 5 years old. Her hobbies include reading, writing, acting, swimming, and singing. Isabell also loves to make new friends.
Isabell showed an innate talent for language at an early age and at two years old appeared on stage, reciting her first poem in Assyrian. Since then, Isabell has been reciting poems in the Valentine Poetry Night held in Chicago, IL. This is probably no surprise to those who know Isabell since one of her role models has been her late grandfather, Rabi (teacher) Akhtiyar Benjamin. He was a teacher with a great command of the Assyrian language and instilled in her the love for her mother tongue. She still treasures the times they had together and the enormous influence he has been in her life.
However, Isabell’s talent does not stop at language. She is also a talented singer and, at the age of 6, began vocal lessons at Bloomingdale's School of Music for two years. She is currently working with a private vocal instructor, Ms. Shellie Beeman, at the Bethel Baptist Church. Isabell’s hopes are to pursue a professional vocal career. Presently, she is a soloist of the Assyrian Church of the East Choir.
Isabell has appeared on several television and radio interviews at a very early age. She was also a guest singer on Assyrian Super Star, held in Chicago in 2006. Further, Isabell appeared in Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist as an orphan with the Overshadow Theatrical Production, Itasca Baptist Church. Most recently, Isabell has released her first CD, “Christmas with Isabell”.
Isabell attends Waterbury Elementary School in Roselle and is in fourth grade. She has always been an excellent student and loves her school. She has already found a mentor in her third grade teacher, Mr. Abel. Their friendship is so important to Isabell that they meet for lunch once a week. In fact, she has dedicated a song to Mr. Abel in her newly released Christmas CD.
Apart from dedicating a song to her mentor, Isabell has dedicated the entire CD to all the Assyrian children in the world and her special message to them is to learn their Assyrian language, practice it and treasure it. Although we are a nation with no country, we have a rich language with ancient roots that helps our diaspora to maintain a unity and bond.
Isabell sincerely thanks her immediate and extended family members and will always hold important the great influence they have had and continue to have in her life.