Newsletter - Keshet Eilon Music Center

Newsletter
January 2013
Keshet Eilon Music Center Management: Reuven Hasak, Chair, Keshet Eilon Organization | Itzhak Rashkovsky, Music Director | Gilad Sheba, Managing Director | David Shemla, Comptroller and Project Director
Dear members of the Keshet Eilon organization and supporters and friends in Israel and abroad,
The calendar year 2013 has just begun, and with it many hopes and expectations. We at Keshet Eilon will be taking our first steps
in the construction of Stage 1 of our campus student dormitories, with the goal of widening the circle of supporters and friends
who have partnered with us in this mission.
Following are updates covering Keshet Eilon’s activity during March 2012 – December 2012, alongside details about planned
events in the future.
We wish you enjoyable reading!
Seminars for Israeli Violinists in 2012
The initiative to hold seminars for Israeli violin students and their teachers was impelled
by a deep concern about violin study in Israel, and the ambition of Keshet Eilon, together
with other bodies in Israel, to elevate and promote violin playing. Today, after a decade
of continuous innovative and intensive seminars, we can say with satisfaction that we are
working in the right direction and that there are signs of a bright future for the violin in
Israel!
The 2012 spring and winter seminars had a combined participation of over 100 Israeli
violin students, ages 7-22, from all sectors and regions of the country. The faculty in both
seminars consisted of noted artists from Israel and abroad, some of whom came to Israel
especially to instruct the students and their teachers on a voluntary basis, alongside a
dedicated team of pianists who worked with the young players during individual lessons
and concerts. The spring seminar also marked the introduction of viola lessons.
Following the program honed in the seminars over time, the participants had personal
lessons, ensemble training, and listening to concerts. The Keshet Eilon Music Library was
available to all students, as was the Violin- and Bow-making Atelier.
The winter seminar hosted the distinguished violinist Ivry Gitlis, who arrived especially
from France. Leading short masterclasses, he kept the students spellbound with his
anecdotes and advice.
1. Violinist Sophia Pikovsky and Pianists Laura Ahss instruct a student at the Spring Seminar, March 2012
2. Viola classes are introduced: Violist Lilach Levanon with pupil Matan Nusimovich, Spring Seminar
3. Violinist Ivry Gitlis with the Junior Ensemble players at the Winter Seminar, December 2012
4. Final concert, Winter Seminar 2012: Mozart’s “Turkish Rondo” is performed with the audience providing percussion accompaniment
Keshet Eilon’s Flagship Program: The International Violin and String Mastercourse, July-August 2012
This past summer, 39 talented violinists arrived from 25 countries, including 14 Israelis, to attend the 22nd consecutive
Mastercourse. They were joined by 17 violists, cellists and a double-bassist, led by noted teachers and artists from Israel and
abroad, together with 9 pianists who worked closely with the students and teachers. A team of archers led the Keshet Eilon
archery program and assisted with operational tasks during the course.
The Mastercourse paid homage to the work of composer Fritz Kreisler, commemorating a half-century since his death with
performances of his works and an exhibit showing his work in the context of his time.
We were honored with the presence of the distinctive violinist Ivry Gitlis, who celebrated his 90th birthday with us. Another
highlight was the “East-West” workshop introducing Middle Eastern music, which evoked great interest by the students. The
outdoor acoustic shell on the lawn was another highlight of the course, with performances attracting large audiences.
A feature of the 2012 Mastercourse Gala Concert was the mass string ensemble of all the students, along with the entire faculty,
and students from the Young Violin Day program, performing “Prayer for Peace” by John Williams from the soundtrack of the film
“Munich,” commemorating 40 years since the murder of Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics.
Israel’s classical music radio station “Kol Hamusica” recorded several Mastercourse concerts live from Eilon and Haifa.
1. and 2. The concerts held outdoors in the acoustic shell attracted large audiences
3. Director of “Kol Hamusica” Radio, Arye Yass, interviews double-bassist Ha Young Jung before a live recording
4. Chamber music performed by an ensemble of faculty and students
5. and 6. Friends of Keshet Eilon Day: Welcoming the Sabbath with the participation of Mastercourse performers. Present were Raya Strauss Bendror and Shmuel Bendror , and Chairman of Bank
Hapoalim Yair Saroussi (center), together with David Shemla, l., and Gilad Sheba
7. Celebrating violinist Ivry Gitlis’ 90th birthday at the Mastercourse, surrounded by Gilad Sheba, l., and Itzhak Rashkovsky, while Maestro Zubin Meta is on the line sending congratulations
8. Taiseer Elias and his ensemble, who led an “East-West” workshop at the Mastercourse, perform Elias’ work “Samai’e Saher” in the Gala Concert
We thank the devoted ticket sales volunteers who filled the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Opera House for the 2012 Gala
Mastercourse concert! We invite volunteers to assist us in this vital task for the 2013 Gala, to be held July 31, 2013.
Benefit Events During 2012
April 1, 2012, Concert at the Tel Aviv home of Raya Strauss Bendror
and Shmuel Bendror
This event for Keshet Eilon donors and potential donors highlighted the vital
importance of the construction of the dormitories in the new campus. Present were
Patrick Drahi and his wife Lina, who became acquainted with Keshet Eilon through
our Friends Committee in Geneva. Patrick announced a generous donation in
support of the start of construction, thereby joining Raya Strauss Bendror, who had
pledged her support for the project in early 2012. Additional donations were
received at the event and thereafter in the form of “bricks” toward the building
project. Our thanks to all!
Raya and Patrick landing at Eilon by helicopter shortly
after the Tel Aviv event
May 2, 2012, Annual benefit concert organized by the New York Friends of Keshet Eilon at the Harmonie Club, under the
leadership of Gil Shiva and Raquel Ramati
The concert was followed by an auction, with all proceeds earmarked for Keshet Eilon activity. The American Friends of Keshet
Eilon have altered their organizational structure. Abe Slivka is now honorary president, and a board of directors has been
formed under the leadership of Gil Shiva and Raquel Ramati, with administrative management handled by Mark Slivka.
Please note the new address of the American Friends:
25 Trinity Pass Road, Pound Ridge, NY 10576  tel. 914-764-0205  Email: afkesheteilon@gmail.com
1. Performers at the Harmonie Club, l. to r.: Asi Matathias (Israel) violin, Ha Young Jung (South Korea) double bass,
Min Young Park (South Korea) piano, Victor Stanislavsky (Israel), piano
2. Honorary President, American Friends of Keshet Eilon Abe Slivka and his wife Harriet
3. to 8. Members of the newly formed New York Board: Mark Slivka, Oren Heiman, Josabeth Fribourg, Dov Sachter, Gil Shiva, Raquel Ramati
9. Renee and Avie Schreiber, honorary members
May 18, 2012, Garden concert at the home of Gidon
and Ora Holin in Kfar Shmaryahu. This initiative by
the Holins, together with Keren Shiffer and Yehiel
Admoni – all active members of the Israel Friends of
Keshet Eilon, drew 200 guests with the goal of
attracting new supporters for our work.
Violinist Hagai Shaham and members of his family
perform at the Holin event
Hosts Ora and Gidon Holin
August 5, 2012, Traditional summer concert hosted by Raya Strauss Bendror and Shmuel
Bendror in their Nahariya home
The event yielded a large donation for Keshet Eilon.
Young violinists Masha Mershon performs at the Strauss Bendror home in Naharyia
September 2, 2012, First Keshet Eilon concert in Chicago at the home of Judy and
Shlomo Goldberg, together with Dalya and Danny Graupe
The event was attended by a large audience of the friends of the hosts. The contact
with the Chicago hosts was made by the chairman of the board of the Keshet Eilon
organization in Israel, Reuven Hasak, together with his brother and sister-in-law
Nehemiah and Judith Hasak of Chicago. We look forward to an ongoing connection
with these new friends of Keshet Eilon.
Concert at the Goldman home, Chicago, l. to r.: Dalya Graupe,
violinist Vadim Gluzman, pianist Angela Yoffe, Judy Goldberg
October 4, 2012, First Keshet Eilon benefit concert in Paris, at the Louvre Auditorium
The idea of forming a connection with the French community was developed by former chair of the Keshet Eilon Board of
Directors, Meir Bar-Uryan, and his wife Yardena. With the assistance of their friends Roby and Mira Harly, a series of
encounters took place during 2011 and 2012; other key people in Paris were attracted to the idea; and a Friends of Keshet Eilon
organization in France was formed, with Raphael Palti as president, joined by Brigitte Rozen, Michel Levy and Roby Harly in
Israel. Thereafter, Michel Saada, Sylvain Kern, Elodie Garamond and Lyatt Samama formed a committee who produced a
festive and elegant event titled “Les Achets de la Paix – Keshet Eilon” (The Bows of Peace – Keshet Eilon). Attending were
representatives of the Friends of Keshet Eilon Committees from the U.S., England, Israel and Switzerland, along with Keshet
Eilon supporter Patrick Drahi with his family, noted violinist Ivry Gitlis, pianist Yevgeni Kissin, and a large audience. Our hope is
that this first concert in Paris will be followed by others and will bring many new friends of Keshet Eilon from the city of lights.
1. Entrance to the Louvre Auditorium
2. Two movements from Vivaldi's Concerto for 4 Violins were performed by Keshet Eilon faculty members Ani Schnarch and Itzhak Rashkovsky, together
with Keshet Eilon alumni and performers from the Conservatoire de Paris
3. to 7. Several of the active members of the Friends of Keshet Eilon in France, Raphael Palti, l., president, Friends of Keshet Eilon in France, and Reuven Hasak,
chair, Keshet Eilon Organization; l. to r.: Roby and Mira Harly, Elodie Garamond, Michel Levy and Brigitte Rozen, Lyatt Samama, Sylvain Kern.
Missing Michel Saada
We send our deepest thanks to all the volunteers who have organized benefit concerts with skill and devotion; and our
gratitude to all the performers – Keshet Eilon alumni and faculty – who appeared on a voluntary basis.
Outside events featuring performances by Keshet Eilon alumni, March 2012- October 2012
March 16, 2012
Visit by the Friends of the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center to Eilon, initiated by Raya Strauss Bendror, with a
performance in her presence.
March 21, 2012
Ceremony at Tel Aviv University awarding the Transparency International, Israel Chapter, “Transparency
Award” to Keshet Eilon Chairman of the Board Reuven Hasak, together with colleagues Rafi Malka and Peleg
Radi, for valuable public service.
May 5, 2012
Conference at Kibbutz Dalya, at the initiative of Raya Strauss Bendror.
May 17, 2012
Private event arranged by Natan Hevrony, a friend of Keshet Eilon, at Moshav Shoresh in the Jerusalem hills.
May 29, 2012
Reception for German President Joachim Gauk in the garden of the President’s House, Jerusalem.
June 3, 2012
Conference of the “Midot” Organization (verifies managerial integrity of non-profit organizations) at the
Tel Aviv home of Raya Strauss Bendror and Shmuel Bendror.
June 30, 2012
Performance honoring the “Israel Trail” hiking society held at the home of Nira and Reuven Hasak in
Tel Aviv.
July 1, 2012
Inaugural ceremony of the incoming president of the Tel Aviv Rotary Club and the award of a scholarship to
a participant in the Keshet Eilon Mastercourse, at the Dan International Hotel, Tel Aviv.
July 14, 2012
Event at the Ahuzat Zahala retirement home in Tel Aviv highlighting Keshet Eilon’s work.
October 18, 2012
Rishon Lezion, and October 20, Petach Tikva, Concerts by the Rishon Lezion Symphony Orchestra featuring
two Keshet Eilon alumni soloists.
Keshet Eilon Activity in the Arab Sector
Keshet Eilon has been assisting the Alkendi Conservatory in the village of Jatt in various
ways recently, including by the loan of violins to students at the conservatory and the
donation of music notes from our music library. Keshet Eilon hosted 14 young violinists
and oud players from Alkendi, together with their teacher Muhammad Khalaf, during the
recent Winter Seminar at Eilon. The guests learned about the construction and care of
violins from violin-builder Adam Korman; listened to a rehearsal by an ensemble of
participants in the seminar; and gave a brief, exciting performance of their own, led by
Muhammad Khalaf, the director of the conservatory. At the end of their visit the group
received a collection of music notes from the Keshet Eilon library. A message received
from the Alkendi conservatory several days later said:
We wish to express our appreciation and gratitude for all you have given us. Keshet Eilon
is our warm second home, in which we truly intensify our sense of family, as well as our
musical education
(signed) The Alkendi – Jatt staff
1. Raquel Ramati (standing, back row, center), representing the Friends of Keshet Eilon in New York, visits the Alkendi
Conservatory in Jatt, December 2011
2. Representatives of Keshet Eilon attend a festive concert performed by the Alkendi Conservatory students at Givat
Haviva, a center of Jewish-Arab activity, June 2012
3. Alkendi musicians visit the Keshet Eilon Winter Seminar, December 2012
Collaboration with the Matteh Asher Regional Conservatory of Music in the Western Galilee
Reflecting a desire to reinforce music education in the Western
Galilee, at the initiative of the conservatory, and with the full backing
of the head of the regional council, the Keshet Eilon management
offered to collaborate with the Matteh Asher Music Conservatory, an
offer that was accepted. As of the start of the 2012-13 school year, all
personal lessons, ensemble playing and orchestral work in the
conservatory’s String Department is now held at Keshet Eilon. During
the recent Winter Seminar, all the conservatory string students and
their parents had a special encounter with violin-maker Adam Korman
and learned about the history of the development of the violin, along
with advice about the care of the instrument. The musicians and their
parents also attended the final student concert of the seminar.
Violin-maker Adam Korman meets with string students from
the Mateh Asher Region in the Keshet Eilon Violin- and Bow-making
Atelier
A large conclave of 12 youth string orchestras from various music
institutions, sponsored by the Ministry of Education, will be hosted by
the Matteh Asher string orchestra in the Keshet Eilon Concert Hall in
early March 2013.
Constructing the Keshet Eilon Campus
Following a period of complex procedures with the various
authorities, a contract was signed with the Israel Land
Authority allocating 29 dunams (7 acres) for the new
campus. A building plan based on a 1:250 scale, and a
request for a permit to construct 8 student dormitory units
(out of 15), prepared by architect Tzadik Elyakim and a
team of consultants in various fields, were approved by the
regional Matteh Asher planning committee. We have
begun preparing detailed plans for the first 8 units at this
time.
Generous donations by Raya Strauss Bendror and Patrick
Drahi, received recently, allow us to begin building at least
4 units this spring. We hope to be able to raise another 4
million shekels, thereby enabling the construction of 8
dormitory units. This will allow us to house all our
Mastercourse students (2 students in a room) in the new
dormitories in the summer of 2014, and thus evacuate the
facilities of the Manor-Cabri secondary school we use now.
Simulated view of the dormitories in the new campus
News from the Keshet Eilon Organization
The Keshet Eilon family sends warmest wishes for recovery to Meir Bar-Uryan (chairman of the Keshet Eilon board until
May 2011).
Michael Kahanov, a longtime activist in Keshet Eilon, has retired from the Finance Committee. We thank Michael for his
contribution to the committee, and we look forward to his continued activity in the Executive Committee.
At a meeting on Nov. 11, 2012, the Executive Committee decided to form the following bodies to oversee the construction
of the campus:
Board of Directors of the Keshet Eilon Music Center, Inc.: Reuven Hasak, Gilad Sheba, David Shemla, Meir Lahav, Michael
Kishon (economic manager, Kibbutz Eilon), David Shtift (Secretary, Kibbutz Eilon). Observers: Reuven Abel (chair, Finance
Committee of Keshet Eilon Organization), Zohar Shani (coordinator, Planning Committee, Kibbutz Eilon). The Board will also
serve as the building administration.
Building Committee of Keshet Eilon Organization: Members of the Finance Committee, Meir Lahav, Tal Freiman
Future Events
The 2012-13 Keshet Eilon “Sounds of Music” Concert Series, which has held four concerts thus far, will present the
following five additional concerts:
February 1, 2013: The Ariel Quartet, with cellist Michal Korman in a Schubert program.
April 4, 2013: The Mondrian Trio together with Gilad Karni (viola) and Lena Ivanov (double-bass).
April 26, 2013: The “Pablo Cassals Festival Players” with Hagai Shaham (violin) and Amnon Erez (piano).
May 17, 2013: A “Magical Operatic Voyage” with Ira Bratman (soprano) and Yotam Cohen (tenor).
June 7, 2013: “Sounds of Hanina” with the Upper Galilee Choir led by Ron Zarchi, with Eliyahu Hacohen, Hebrew song
historian.
You are invited to combine a visit to the Western Galilee with a qualitative concert. For more details, click here:
http://www.keshetei.org.il/images/siteCont/concert_pdf_HE.pdf
The Keshet Eilon Concert Hall foyer features an exhibit titled “The Song of the Land,” based on Mahler’s Symphony of the
same name, by photo artist Simcha Sherman.
Spring Seminar, May 2-4, 2013. The seminar will be held in Eilat in parallel with the annual Chamber Music Festival to be
held there, with the support of a grant to Keshet Eilon by the America-Israel Cultural Foundation.
Annual New York Friends of Keshet Eilon Benefit Concert will be held on May 21, 2013 , hosted by Batya Kahane and
Daniel Jusidman, at 15 Central Park West. The contact with the hosts was made through the welcome initiative of
Miriam and Giora Romm.
The 2013 International Keshet Eilon Violin and String Mastercourse will be held July 21-August 8.
We guarantee an exciting musical experience which will include:
▪ Homage to the memory of the world-famous violinist Mischa Elman, with the participation of
Joe Seiger, Elman’s piano accompanist of 15 years, and his granddaughters Terry Mack Magnin
and Dana Mack Prinz.
▪ A workshop with the noted French violinist Gilles Apap.
▪ An encounter with the fascinating violinist Ivry Gitlis.
▪ The Gala Mastercourse Concert will take place on Wednesday, July 31st, in the Opera House –
The Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center.
Mischa Elman performing with pianist Joe Seiger
The Winter Seminar will be held in Eilon on December 19-21, 2013.
Further details about all these events will be forthcoming
THE KESHET EILON FAMILY SHARES THE SORROW OF:
Terre Blair and the Hamlisch family, on the death of Marvin Hamlisch in the USA
The Ron family, on the death of Hagai Ron
Janet Goldman and family, on the death of Tony Goldman in the USA
Zippy Matusevich and family, on the death of father Uri Geles
Lena Mazor and family, on the death of her mother
Robert Sherman and family, on the death of Veronica Sherman in the USA
Yvonne and the Cohen family, on the death of Barry Cohen in the USA
Richard Cohen and the Riklis family, on the death of Mona Riklis-Ackerman in the USA
Zari and the Tovbin family, on the death of Mira Tovbin
Letter to the members of the Keshet Eilon Organization and the Friends of Keshet Eilon
Committees around the World
Dear members of the Keshet Eilon Organization and friends of Keshet Eilon,
We are writing to you in order to keep up our connection and to update you about developments in the organization.
A work program for Keshet Eilon for the year 2013, presented at a meeting of the Keshet Eilon Board of Directors on November
11, 2012, indicated that in order for Keshet Eilon to continue its ongoing activity alongside the start of the construction of the
new campus in 2013, we will need more massive assistance on the part of the members of the organization and its friends in
terms of developing connections with additional philanthropic foundations and private donors in Israel and throughout the
world. At this time, we are making efforts to revive the Friends of Keshet Eilon Committees in London and Geneva, and to form
similar groups in other cities, side by side with the sustained support of the Friends of the Keshet Eilon Committee in New York,
and newly formed groups in Paris and Chicago.
Before ratifying the work program and budget for 2013, a discussion was held regarding finances, and a decision was made to
approach all the members of the Keshet Eilon Organization and the Friends community with a personal request for assistance
and support. As a first step, all the members of the Keshet Eilon Organization in Israel agreed to assist in fund-raising by
contacting potential donors or approaching existing donors and reinforcing the tie with them, with the goal of heightened
support.
We turn to each of you, therefore, with several suggestions as to how you can assist Keshet Eilon at this time. You can assist by
the donation of a “brick” or “bricks” toward the construction of the student dormitories in the new Music Center campus. Each
brick costs $1,000; you can also assist by setting up a permanent bank order for smaller sums over time toward support for
ongoing programs such as: sponsorship of a concert in the Keshet Eilon “Sounds of Music” Concert Series; sponsorship of a
seminar for Israeli violin students; support for a project in the Arab sector; underwriting the cost of bringing over a noted
teacher from abroad; donating a scholarship for a violin student in need.
We will be grateful to you for any form of support you may choose, and for playing a significant role in the fulfillment of the
Keshet Eilon vision.
______________
Reuven Hasak
__________________
Itzhak Rashkovsky
_____________
Gilad Sheba
________________
David Shemla
We thank you for your support for past projects, and we look forward to seeing you at our forthcoming events.
With best wishes for a happy year of sublime sounds and shared successes,
The Keshet Eilon management
Photo credits, with many thanks: Marcela Barkai, Varda Bobrow, Florent Cardinaud, Danny Graupe, Raymond Hamlin, Leora Heiman, Sarit Uziely