The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance Presents:

Music in the Valley

The 11^th International Summer Institute for Strings

Kibbutz Mizra- Jezreel Valley - Israel

6 -17 August 2007

Violin Viola Cello Double-Bass Guitar, Harp, Chamber Music

The Program Lodging Faculty Application Contact Us

When Music meets Nature

Music In the Valley is unique among summer music programs worldwide in its commitment to the highest levels of music making in an inspiring and informal environment.

Participants of the institute are advanced string players, aged 16-30.

With past participants having come from: England , USA , France , Germany , Poland ,

Japan , Canada , South-Korea , Hungary , Romania , Czech Republic and Israel , the institute is a cultural Meeting place.

The dedicated instruction of the faculty is characteristic of the Institute. Limited to 70-80 Participants, the Institute ensures the concentrated nature of its musical instruction and the personal attention given to each student.

Music in the Valley offers an unforgettable summer and a challenging music experience.

The Program

The program of the summer Institute for strings is based upon intensive instrumental training. Individual lessons will be given every other day (sometimes even more).

Master classes will be held regularly over the duration of the institute and participants are encouraged to attend the lessons and master classes of their peers. In addition, we encourage students to take lessons with more then one teacher of their instrument.

The program also consists of technique classes, workshops, discussions, chamber music and both students and faculty concerts.

Each participant in the Institute will be afforded an unusual amount of freedom in planning their schedule.

Chamber Music – This year we will hold a workshop for chamber ensembles under the tutelage of Mr. Avy Abramovich. The workshop is intended for the chamber groups of the highest level and presents an opportunity for intensive coaching on a wide array of repertoire. Students who choose chamber music as a major subject should apply and enroll in the program as a group. Those students interested in focusing on their instrument may participate in a chamber group as a secondary subject and will be assisted in forming ensembles with other participants.

Concerts – Students will perform in concerts during the second week of the Institute. Some of the concerts will be internal and some will be advertised and open to the public. Students wishing to perform should inform us which pieces they would like to play (no later then June 15^th)

As a part of Music In the Valley Festival, Students of the institute will get free tickets to concerts featuring the institute’s faculty and other guest artists.

Piano Accompaniment

A team of professional and collaborative pianists will be in residence for work with the individual instrumental studios, as well as for master classes and concerts. Participants are requested to provide a list of the repertoire on which they expect to work during the institute by June 15^th.

Center of the arts

Classes, concerts and master classes are based around the jezreel Valley ’s newly constructed Center of the arts, at the entrance of the Kibbutz.

Practice rooms are located in the center of the arts and at numerous sites throughout the Kibbutz. Most of the practice facilities are available at all times of day and night.

Language:

The Primary languages of instruction in Music in the Valley are English and Hebrew.

Back to Top

Lodging (Hide)

Lodging- Life on a Kibbutz

Kibbutz Mizra is a collective agricultural community of 200 families located in

the tranquil Jezreel Valley. Students will be accommodated three to each

room in comfortable new air-conditioned apartments, located in a short walking distance from the center of the arts.

All meals are served in the Kibbutz dinning hall (including kosher food), where participants of the institute dine both with the faculty and the members of the Kibbutz. All amenities on the Kibbutz are within a short walking distance from each other, and include grocery store, bakery, coffee shop and pub.

Leisure Activities:

Recreational facilities available for Music in the Valley participants include an outdoor swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts. The Kibbutz also features a network of beautiful walking paths. Other recreational activities include movie screening, Kabalat Shabbat night swimming and more.

Back to Top

Faculty

Violin: Yehonatan Berick (Canada - Israel), Nava Milo (Israel), Michael Gaisler (Israel)

Viola: Rivka Golani (England-Israel), Lilach Levanon (Israel)

Cello: Zvi Plesser (Israel), Hillel Zori (Israel), David Sella (Israel)

Double Bass: David Murray (USA), Michael Klinghoffer (Israel), Merav Reuel (Israel)

Guitar: Emanuele Segre (Italy), Joseph Urshalmi (Israel)

Harp: Florence Sitruk (Germany)

Yehonatan Berick (Canada – Israel)

A prizewinner at the 1993 Naumburg competition and a recipient of the 1996-97 Prix Opus, Yehonatan Berick is in high demand internationally as soloist, recitalist, chamber musician (on violin as well as on viola) and pedagogue. His busy concert schedule has already taken him throughout North America, Europe and Israel.

He has performed, among others, under Yoav Talmi, Mendi Rodan, Kees Baakels and Keith Lockhart, with the Quebec, Winnipeg, Windsor, Grand Junction, Jerusalem and Haifa Symphonies, and the Israeli, Cincinnati, Montreal and Manitoba Chamber Orchestras, Thirteen Strings and Ensemble Appassionata. Berick's many festival and chamber series’ credits include Marlboro, Ravinia, Seattle, Vancouver, Ottawa, Jerusalem, El Paso and more.

He was co-artistic director of the revived Quebec Chamber Music Society. Touring as a chamber musician with Musicians from Marlboro, The Lortie-Berick-Lysy Piano Trio, the Huberman String Quartet, Concertante Chamber Players and other chamber ensembles, he has been featured in the world's most important music centers. On CD, Berick has recorded for the Centaur, Summit, Gasparo, Acoma, JMC and Helicon labels

Previously teaching at McGill University and the Eastman School of Music, Yehonatan Berick is currently Professor of Violin at the School of Music at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

Yehonatan Berick started his musical education at the age of six. Having graduated from highschool at 16, he entered the Tel Aviv University's Music Academy, and completed his studies at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, earning a full tuition and a Summa cum Lauda. His principal violin teachers were Ilona Feher, Henry Meyer, Kurt Sassmanshauss, and Dorothy Delay. He had theory teachings with composer Sergiu Natra, and attended masterclasses with such artists as Isaac Stern, Henryk Szeryng, Max Rostal and Josef Gingold.

Nava Milo (Israel)- Violin

A student of Vally Blutner and Arthur Zisserman at the Tel-Aviv Academy of Music. Continued her studies for a diploma in violin performance at the Royal College of music in London. She completed her studies in Violin pedagogy with Zakar Bron in Luebeck, Germany. In addition she graduated cum laude from Haifa University in Psychology and Education.

Currently, Ms. Milo teaches violin performance at the Jerusalem academy of Music and Dance, and at the Tel-Aviv Israeli Conservatory, where she also instructs students in a joint project with Itzhak Perlman. This project includes a student-teacher exchange between selected American institutions and the Israeli conservatory.

Numerous students of Nava Milo have won national and international competitions and won have performed as soloists with orchestras worldwide. Ms. Milo teaches frequently at master classes in the U.S., Europe and Israel, and serves regularly on juries at important international violin competitions.

Michael Gaisler (Israel) - Violin

Mr. Gaisler holds a Masters Degree in Violin Performance and Pedagogy. He studied in Kishinev and in Moscow with Prof. M.A.Garlitsky.

Since 2005 Michael is Associate Professor at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, after he had been Associate Professor at TAU (2001-5). Michael has taught Master Classes and Workshops in the US, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Russia and Romania. He also holds Master Classes, private lessons and teacher’s seminars all over Israel (including Matan and Mishkenot Sha'ananim).

Born in Kishinev Mr. Gaisler served as the Concertmaster of the Orchestra in the Opera House and Professor of Violin at the Music College, Kishinev. After he immigrated to Israel he became Instructor of violin and viola and chamber music coach at the Tel Aviv Conservatory of Music. Mr. Gaisler founded and directed a string orchestra comprised of students from both the Jerusalem and Tel Aviv academies.

While teaching in the U.S he was Assistant Director, Professor of Violin and Chamber Music at the Academy of Strings, UCSD (1988-90) and Music Director and Conductor of "Strings of San Diego" (1990-2000), Founder and Music Director of Southwest Music Institute.

Many of Mr. Gaisler’s students won national and international competitions and went on with their musical careers as soloists, orchestra players and teachers all over the world.

Rivka Golani (England-Israel)- Viola

Recognized as one of the outstanding violists of modern times, Rivka Golani’s contributions to the advancement of viola technique have given her an indelible place in the history of the instrument. More than two hundred works have so far written for the Israeli-born Ms. Golani, including thirsty concertos. As a soloist, Ms. Golani has performed with many of the world’s most prominent orchestras, including the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebow, the Montreal Symphony, the Boston Symphony, and countless others.

A dedicated teacher, Ms. Golani teaches regularly in Canada, the U.K., the Netherlands and Spain, and is a professor at the Birmingham Conservatoire. In addition, Rivka Golani is a great demand as a recording artist, with an extensive discography spanning from the Baroque to the contemporary periods. Active also in the visual arts, Ms. Golani has worked closely with composers in presenting multimedia performances of works for the Viola.

Lilach Levanon (Israel) – Viola

Born In Tel-Aviv, Lilach Levanon holds a doctorate of music from New-York University. Ms. Levanon has appeared both as a soloist and as a chamber music performer in the U.S., Europe and South America. She made frequent recordings for Israeli Radio.

Widely recognized as a prominent viola Pedagogue, Ms. Levanon is a Professor of Viola at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, and has given master classes at the Universities of New-York, Bogota and other locals.

Zvi Plesser (Israel) - Cello

Cellist Zvi Plesser enjoys a wide-ranging career as soloist, chamber music player and teacher. He has won numerous awards including the first prize in the Washington International Competition .

Mr. Plesser performed in New York’s prestigious Carnegie Hall on several occasions. At the age of 17 he made his U.S. debut on that stage with Isaac Stern and Pinchas Zuckerman in celebration of Maestro Stern’s 65th birthday. He returned to Carnegie hall as soloist with the Juilliard Orchestra under Maestro Zubin Mehta. He has since performed with leading orchestras among them the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, The Buffalo Philharmonic, the Minsk Chamber Orchestra and many more. He has also toured with the Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields under Sir Neville Merriner performing as soloist in Brahms’ Double Concerto alongside violinist Gil Shaham.

In the last seasons he has been featured with the Israel Chamber Orchestra, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Camerata, the Northern Israel Symphony Orchestra and The Israel Sinfonietta. In May of 2002 Mr. Plesser played the world premier of Josef Bardanashvilli’s ‘Dialogues for Cello and Orchestra’ with the Israel Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Steven Sloan.

An active chamber music performer he was a member of the Huberman Quartet and is a founding member of Concertante Chamber Players. His collaborations have taken him to many festivals including: Marlboro Festival - USA, Schleswig-Holstein Festival and Festival Pro - Germany, Montpelier Festival - France, Lappland Festspel and Gotland Festival – Sweden and more.

Zvi Plesser was an AICF scholarship recipient and is a graduate of the Juilliard School as a student of Zara Nelsova. His principal teachers include Zvi Harel in Israel and David Soyer in the U.S. Mr. Plesser has taught at the North Carolina School of the Arts and is currently on the faculty of the Jerusalem Academy of music and Dance. He is frequently invited to give master classes and coachings in music centers in Europe and the U.S.

Hillel Zori (Israel)- Cello

One of the most exciting cellists in Israel, Mr. Zori has made his debut with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Zubin Mehta in 1984. Since then, he has performed with Israelis major orchestras, as well as with the Slovenian RTV Symphony, the Rheinische Philharmonic and the Disseldorf Symphony.

Born in 1966 in Tel Aviv, Hillel Zori studied with Uzi Wisel at the Tel-Aviv Academy and with Bernard Greenhouse in the United States. He has distinguished himself by winning coveted prizes in many important international competitions, such as the Premio Stradivari in Cremona, the Rostropovich Cello competition in Paris, and the Maria Canals competition in Barcelona. As a frequent recitalist and chamber musician, Hillel Zori has toured the USA, Europe and The Far East, playing in festivals, and collaborating with artists such as David Soyer, Michael Tree and, Pnina Salzmann.

As a pedagogue, Hillel Zori serves as head of strings department at the Buchmann–Mehta School of music , Tel Aviv University. He has given master-classes in Israel, Europe and China.

Mr. Zori most recent highlights are M. Wiesenberg's "Monodialogue – A Fantasy for viola solo", and "Carmeniana" – Suite Brilliant on themes from Bizet's opera Carmen for cello and orchestra, performed with the Israel Chamber Orchestra and Noam Sheriff.

and has given master-classes in Israel, Europe, and China.

David (Dudu) Sella (Israel)- Cello

An Israeli cellist.,Graduated with honors, and received an “Artist Diploma” from the Bucmann-Mehta school of Music, Tel Aviv University, under Prof. Uzi Wiesel.

Continued his studies at the “Juilliard School of Music”, New York, under Leonard Rose, where he received a B.Mus., M.Mus., and a Post Graduate Diploma.

A Doctor of Philosophy from New York University, were he also served on the faculty of the Music Department.

Dudu performed throughout the world as a soloist, and in chamber music, both in concerts and on Radio and Television. Recorded many CDs, one of them as a soloist in the chamber version of Leonad Bernsteins' “Candid”.

Founder and Director of "Musican", a festival of Contemporary Israeli music.

Music Director of the "Open Museum" and the "Photography Museum" in the Galil.

Currently, the cellist of the “Adam” Piano Trio.

Faculty member at the Jerusalem Academy of Music, The Head of the “Israel Cello Society”, Director of the annual International Cello Seminar and Music Director of Theresienstadt Museum.

David Murray (U.S.A) - Double Bass

David Murray has an international reputation as a solo bassist and teacher. He is currently Associate Professor of Bass at Butler University in Indianapolis, where he also teaches classes in music appreciation, and is Principal Bassist of the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra. He also plays as Principal Bassist with Sinfonia da Camera in Urbana, Illinois, and at the Bear Valley Music Festival in northern California. Before coming to Indianapolis, David was Instructor of Bass at West Texas A&M University and principal with the Amarillo Symphony. He has been a member of the Dallas Chamber Orchestra and also toured twice with the Irish Chamber Orchestra.

David’s first private teacher was bass virtuoso Gary Karr, with whom he studied in high-school and at the Hartt Music School, University of Hartford, in Connecticut. Summers were spent at Tanglewood and the Aspen Music Festival, where he worked with Stuart Sankey. At Aspen, he won the 1981 concerto competition. In Los Angeles in1988 he won the International Society of Bassists (ISB) Solo Competition, the first prize being a solo debut at Carnegie Hall. David has made solo appearances, both in recital and with orchestra, and given clinics and masterclasses throughout the United States, Canada, and in South Korea, Brazil, Israel, Scotland, Poland, and Holland. He has performed at several summer chamber music festivals including Scotia Festival, Killington, and Cape May. In June, 2001, David hosted the ISB convention at Butler University to 800 bassists from 27 countries and is currently secretary and a Past-President of the ISB. He has been published in the ISB journal, Double Bassist magazine, the Suzuki Association of America journal, and American String Teachers. He has recorded two solo CD’s and released a video of theater music in the spring of 2003.

Michael Klinghoffer, (Israel) - Double Bass

Michael Klinghoffer, Double Bass teacher and performer studied with Gary Karr at Yale University and at the Hartt School- University of Hartford.

He was assistant principal bass player in the Rishon le Zion Symphony and in the Israel Sinfonietta.

Currently he performs solo concerts, recitals and chamber music and conducts master classes in Israel and abroad. His repertoire ranges from contemporary Israeli music, (much of it composed for him), to his own arrangements for the double bass, which have been published in the U.S and in Europe and recorded on two CD. He has published articles on Music Education and on Pedagogy in Israeli professional periodicals as well as in the US. "Music Education in Institutions of Non Formal Education" was published by MATAN in collaboration with the Israeli Ministry of Education. Since 1987, he has been on the faculty of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, conducting orchestras, teaching the double bass and other subjects. He was the Head of the String Department and currently serves as the Dean of Students. Teaches and conducts the chorus at the Israel Arts and Science Academy since 2004.

Along with his academic commitments and performing engagements, and after being Music Director for seven years, Mr. Klinghoffer is the Music Advisor of MATAN where he devotes much time and energy to working with young musicians from diverse backgrounds all over Israel

Merav Reuel (Israel) - Double Bass

A native of Israel, Ms. Reuel started her double bass studies with Mr. Michael Klinghoffer and continued them with Gary Karr at The University of Hartford and with Mr. Donald Palma at the New England Conservatory of Music, where she completed her Masters degree.

One of the leading double bass pedagogues in Israel, Ms. Reuel is a faculty of the Jerusalem Academy for Music and Dance as well as the Tel Aviv Conservatory and Hassadna Conservatory in Jerusalem.

As a performer, Ms. Reuel played with the Rishon Letzion Symphony, the Israeli Kamerata and is currently an adjunct player with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra.Merav Reuel is a certified yoga teacher who teaches extensively in the greater Jerusalem area.

Emanuele Segre (Italy) Guitar

Emanuele Segre, the Italian guitarist, performs internationally in cities all over Europe and United and participated in international festivals such as the Marlboro Festival , the Bratislava Festival, the "Festival de Radio France et Montpellier" ,the Bregenz Festival , the "Torino Settembre Musica" International Festival, and the "Settimane Musicali Internazionali di Stresa" .

As a soloist he has appeared with Yuri Bashmet and the Moscow Soloists, the English Chamber Orchestra conducted by Salvatore Accardo, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, the European Community Chamber Orchestra and more . His chamber music activities include duo performances with Patrick Gallois. Segre has won numerous competitions, including the East & West Artists Prize in New York in 1987, which allowed him to make his debut at the Carnegie Recital Hall, and, in the same year, the Pro Musicis International Award in New York. In 1989 he was selected for the UNESCO International Rostrum of Young Performers.

Jean Françaix dedicated his concerto for guitar and orchestra to Segre, which he subsequently recorded for WERGO.Born in 1965, Segre studied under Ruggero Chiesa at the Milan Conservatory, and took his diploma with great distinction, "summa cum laude". He has attended Master Classes by Julian Bream and John Williams.

Joseph Urshalmi (Israel) Guitar

Prof. Joseph Urshalmi born in Teheran where he began his guitar studies with the Spanish teacher Ignacio Sole Aguilar. He later attended the Oscar Espla conservatory in Spain under Maestro Jose Tomas. In 1968,Urshalmi established the Guitar Department at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance where he continues to teach today. In 1973 he was granted an artist scholarship by America- Israel Cultural Foundation, to study at the Guildhall School for Music and Drama in London. While living there, Urshalmi began his international career . He not only performed extensively but published a series of widely acclaimed articles about new method in guitar pedagogy for the Classical Guitar Magazine of England, that were translated many Languages. He is often invited to give Master Classes in international festivals and to judge in international competitions at the USA, Canada, Argentina and in most of European countries. He was also invited by the Cuban Government to teach at the National Conservatory of the University of Havana

Prof. Urshalmi also devotes himself to teaching and promoting a generation of international guitar players. His book "A Conscious Approach to Guitar Technique" has been recently published in Germany.

Florence Sitruk (Germany) – Harp

Professor of harp at the University of Music- Geneva, a position she also holds at the Lithuanian Music Academy Vilnius since the age of 26 as guest professor, and is currently worldwide the youngest professor in her field. Florence Sitruk, who is of Franco-German origin, studied at the Paris Conservatory with Marielle Nordmann, and gained the Artist Diploma from Indiana University/USA with Susann McDonald and legendary pianist György Sebök . In addition, she holds degrees in musicology and philosophy from Freiburg University.

Since her Mozart-debut at the age of 15 with the Camarata Academica Salzburg under Sandor Végh, Ms. Sitruk performs regularly on four continents and played solo with orchestras such as the Lucerne Festival Strings, the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, the Dresden Philharmonic, the Lithuanian Philharmonic and many more.

Ms. Sitruk is a dedicated advocate and performer of contemporary Music. She emphasizes on establishing the harp as a solo instrument through exquisite programs and frequent world premieres of leading contemporary music composers , such as Ami Maayani, late Ferenc Farkas, György Kurtag and Bernd Franke. At the same time she strongly supports the revival of the virtuoso concerti by Elias Parish Alvars (1808-1849), the so-called Liszt of the harp. Ms. Sitruk, who lives in Berlin, won many national and international top prizes (Paris, Brussels, Indiana University).

Avy Abramovich (Israel) - Chamber Music

Mr. Abramovich was a member of the violin section of the IBO- Jerusalem Symphony orchestra, as well as a member of a few chamber ensembles. As concertmaster of the 'George Enescu' Philharmonic Orchestra and the Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, Mr. Abramovich performed in concerts all over Europe and the United States. He served as Professor of Violin at the Music Academy in Bucharest. After is immigration to Israel Mr. Abramovich coached well known chamber ensembles such as: 'Ariel Quartet', ‘Jerusalem String Quartet', 'Carmel Quartet' and The Chamber Music Ensemble at the Givataim Conservatory.

Mr. Abramovich has won prizes with these Ensembles in competitions in Europe, including the international competition, Franz Schubert and the 20th century in Graz, Austria.

In 2004 he received the "Art of Teaching in Israel" award in a ceremony at Lincoln Center, New York, awarded by Itzhak Perlman.

Mr. Abramovich is the head of the Strings Department at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance and at the Conservatory in Jerusalem, and teaches at the Buchman-Mehta school of Music, Tel Aviv University.

He has given Master classes in Israel and Europe and serves on juries at international competitions in Europe.

Back to Top

Application & Fees:

Total costs of the Institute: $1,200 including full room and board and registration fee.

Payments:

- Non-refundable $50 registration fee will be sent with the application form.

- First payment- prior to may 15^th ‏2007‏

- Second payment- Prior to June 15^th 2007

Early registration- Prior to April 1’st: 10% Discount

End of Registration: June 15^th

Financial Assistance:

Limited scholarships are available. If applying for financial assistance, please include a letter outlining your reasons for applying for scholarship, as well as two letters of recommendation, with your application form.

Audition CD/tape-

A 10 minute audio cassette/Cd with two contrasting movements should be sent with the completed application form and the registration fee.

Download Application form

Contact us

For further information please contact:

Eli Rachevski- Institute Coordinator.

Music In the Valley International Summer Institute for Strings

The Jerusalem Academy for Music and Dance

Givat Ram Campus, Jerusalem 91904 Israel

Telephone: +972-52-6380900, fax: +972-2-6527713

E-mail: summerstrings@jamd.ac.il

Guitar Israel Guitar Israel