Richmond Hill teen impresses at Canada’s Got Talent, wins coveted golden buzzer

Israeli-born singer wows judges at TV competition with dynamic voice

yorkregion.com
May 24, 2023

It's a moment Maya Gamzu wants to relive again and again.

After the 14-year-old's performance of, “Something’s Got A Hold On Me” by Christina Aguilera on Canada’s Got Talent (CGT), celebrity judge Kardinal Offishall dance-stepped his way over and pushed the golden buzzer, raining confetti down onto the stage.

“To this day, I don’t know how to describe how I was feeling,” said Maya. “I was so shocked and happy.” Golden buzzer recipients from Maya’s season won a guaranteed spot in the semifinals and received $25,000 from CIBC.

In the semifinals, Maya sang “Domino” by Jessie J, after which her CGT journey ended, but she assured fans her singing career has only begun.

Maya and her family immigrated to Canada from Israel and settled in Richmond Hill approximately five years ago.

Though most of the world caught their first glimpse of the singer on TV or online, Maya has been performing for family and friends since she was three. "I would stand in my living room and be like, 'Attention everybody! I have a song for you.'"

Her father, Sergei, recalled the moment he knew Maya was meant for bigger things. He said she was eight or nine years old and they had been out with friends at a restaurant in Israel that was playing live music.

“At some point, I found myself hearing Maya’s voice and I looked around and saw her on stage,” said Sergei. “She had disappeared and talked the musicians into letting her sing.”

After several verses of “Hey Jude” by the Beatles, and hearing the audience’s applause, her family knew she had something special.

Today, Maya, who turned 15 in May, balances her time as a Grade 9 student while taking drama and singing lessons. She enjoys singing songs from the ’80s and ’90s and contemporary R&B, and spends time playing piano and writing music.

“In the future, I would love to be a singer and act on the side, and be out there in the industry,” she said. “Canada’s Got Talent was an experience I had only heard of and dreamed about. It’s pretty amazing.”

Maya’s cover of “I See Red” is available on Spotify. Follow her journey on Instagram at maya_gamzu_official.