Ronit Ofir Engel, also known as Queen Ofir, is an internationally renowned and multiple award-winning singer, actress, performer and record producer, to name just a few of her prestigious pedigrees in the entertainment industry. And she was born in Israel and is one of three children of Catalan, Greek, Yugoslavian and Hungarian descent.
A Fascinating Family
Ofir comes from a very intriguing and multinational family. While her mother, who is of Spanish descent, was born in Israel, her father hails from the former Yugoslavia. His father, Ofir’s grandfather, was a famous cantor of the synagogue in Sarajevo. During the World War, her great aunt and uncle managed to escape with her father and his brother (when just infants) after having bribed Nazi prison guards. They fled to Israel. The rest of the family were, tragically, not so fortunate.
Ofir Engel’s mother was an actress, teacher and journalist who later became a police officer. Her father was a business manager but who also had a military career and was injured in service.
Ofir Discovers Her Creativity
Always a highly creative child, Ofir discovered a love of drawing when she was just seven, winning a national competition. When she became twelve, she first discovered her passion for singing when she performed in front of her school. The first song she ever sang was “Whatever You Wish Will Be Written.” It was a Hebrew version of The Beatles’ “Let it be.” She has since written her own songs, in both Arabic and English, as well as writing dramatic poetry in Hebrew.
At school, her creativity was immediately apparent, and her studies focused on the arts, including drawing, acting, writing and singing. She did a year of drama school, learned graphic design and then spent two years studying psychology.
Having explored a variety of creative skills, Ofir became a performer in a highly unexpected setting. She served in the Israeli army, becoming a professional entertainer for the soldiers. Her skills and talents became evident in no time and even resulted in the military giving her an award for her services.
But this was not enough for Ofir’s burgeoning talents. She needed to spread her wings and find a broader, more international audience.
Her Career Goes Global
In 2004, she moved from Israel to the USA and Canada to establish her career as a singer and actress. She attended the renowned William Esper Studio and was taught by Terry Knickerbocker.
Always restless to explore her creativity and new fields, Ofir then became a TV host, interviewing celebrities, writing sketches and working behind the scenes. Her talents were abundant, and she soon found herself working as a producer and executive producer on numerous shows and music videos.
To expand her artist skillset even further, when Ofir moved to Canada, she attended Daniel Eby’s Classical Musical Studio and further broadened her abilities.
She Becomes Queen Ofir, and the Rest is History
It was in 2013 that two of her managers changed her professional name to “Queen Ofir.” It was around this time that her career exploded, and she started to perform and write music across a wide spectrum of musical styles and genres, including techno, world pop, classical, R&B and Hip Hop. As it is, she is known for often using her Mediterranean background as inspiration for her music.
Her success has been rapid and impressive. Queen Ofir has performed at venues and on television and radio stations in the USA, Canada, the U.K. and more. She was a double nominee for Album of the Year and Artist of the Year at the L.A. Music Awards. She is also an eight-time Grammy Award nominee-elect.
The Founding of Passion Show Records, CD Releases and Performing at the White House
Always wanting to expand and create, Ofir Engel became the founder and CEO of Passion Show Records, which began in 2007. The record label has released three of her albums so far: Poetry of The Brilliant Silence, The Passion Show and The Passion Show Remix. They have proved immensely popular.
Even with the album label, CD releases and awards, Queen Ofir’s prime passion remains performing, and her many successes have been awe-inspiring. As well as major national and international tours, she has played at some legendary events and venues. Her performance on X Factor wowed Simon Cowell and the other judges. Plus, she was also a star at the 65th Annual Israel Celebration and has twice sung at the White House on National Prayer Day.
Other Projects, Acting Roles and Accolades
As well as working in the theater, Ofir Engel has also appeared on television and in films. Her acting career began in 1999, and she has starred in and directed numerous music videos.
She is best known in films Preying for Mercy (2014), Mac Daddy & the Lovers (2015) and Tragedy of a Mother and Son (2012).
Somehow Ofir Engel has also found time to be a certified life coach and mindfulness coach, as well as a sports and alternative medicine professional and massage therapist.
Her Career Has Just Begun!
Ronit Queen Ofir Engel is hard to pigeonhole or repress. Working and performing across multiple creative fields and genres, she continues to expand and excel. Although primarily a performer, singer, actress and producer, it seems likely the list will continue to grow and shine!