Choirs in Israel Bat-Kol Girls Choir The choir of the Israel Conservatory of Music, Tel Aviv was founded in 1984 by Anat Morahg who is Musical Director and Conductor. The choir of 35 members is divided into three sections; 7-10 years, preliminary: 10-13 years, preparatory: 13-18 years, representative. Choirs meet twice weekly for various training activities. Bat-Kol has performed in local and international festivals, opera and theatre productions, television and public events. Emek Hefer Choir - A mixed-voice choir of around fifty members. Musical Director and Conductor, Shimon Levtov. Founded in 1965 by Henry Klausner, the choir’s extensive repertoire includes baroque, classical, 20th century works, numerous Israeli folk songs and Jewish melodies. The choir meets for rehearsal every Sunday evening at Beit Yitzhak. Israel Kibbutz Choir The choir comprises around fifty members from kibbutzim around the country. It was founded in 1955 by Israeli composer Yehuda Sharett. They meet weekly in Tel Aviv for rehearsals and specialize in Israeli and Jewish music. They have recorded Israeli compositions. The choir has sung in numerous Festivals, have toured throughout Europe, America, Australia and New Zealand. Conductor is Ronen Borshevsky. Jerusalem A Cappella Singers is a mixed choir with a membership of 28 singers. With a fine level of musicianship and vocal training, the ensemble performs repertoire that is challenging and varied. They perform regularly in the main vocal festival of Israel, the Abu Gosh vocal festival, under the baton of Judi Axelrod and the festival has recorded and released two live performances as the festival compact disc. Jerusalem Cantors Choir - The Jerusalem cantors choir was established in 1972 by a select group of students of the lat Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Rivlin of Blessed Memory. The choir has set itself a two fold goal. It wishes both to preserve and modernise the music of our ancient prayers and songs. The choir's repertoire includes cantorial, liturgical, Yiddish, Chassidic and Israeli works Jerusalem Oratorio Choir - The Jerusalem Oratorio Choir, founded in 1987, consists of about 150 members. Choir members work in smaller groups and periodically assemble to form a large choral body for orchestral projects. Kfar-Shmaryahu Choir. The choir of forty members are all amateur singers from many professions and meet weekly for rehearsal. Musical Director and Conductor is Moshe Rasiuk. The choir sings both a capella and with accompaniment from Renaissance to Romantic works. They have toured overseas and perform regularly in Israel. Kibbutz Artzi Choir. One of Israel’s leading choirs with more than fifty members. Founded in 1958, they have an extensive repertoire and perform throughout the country, also touring to Europe and America since 1958. The choir has performed under the baton of such great conductors as Zubin Mehta and James Levine. They meet weekly to rehearse and at week-end gatherings from time to time. Musical Director and Conductor is Yuval Ben-Ozer. Kfar-Shmaryahu Choir - The Kfar Shmaryahu Choir has been in existence in its present form since the spring of 1991. The Choir has 40 members, all amateurs, who in their everyday lives come from many of the free professions. Although music is not always their principal occupation, they see their singing not only as a means of spending some of their leisure time together, but rather as a cultural objective as well. The repertoire includes A-capella works from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Classical and Romantic period works are accompanied on piano. The choir also performs Israeli compositions and songs, which are especially arranged for it. Megido Choir. A mixed choir of around thirty members located in the Megido Region. Founded in 1995 by Musical Director and Conductor Pnina Inbar, the choir has an extensive repertoire of both secular and religious works ranging from classical to contemporary items. The choir has toured in Europe and performs regularly throughout Israel.Email tal_shir1@walla.co.il Moran Choir. A leading girls’ choral institution in Israel, the choir comprises four sections from pre-school age to seniors, mostly students at music academies. The choir’s home is at Beit Yitzhak Moshav. Founded in 1986 by current Musical Director and Conductor Naomi Faran, they have performed with leading orchestras in Israel and toured to USA, Canada, Germany and Japan. The choir has made several recordings. Email moranchr@bezeqint.net Na'ama Women's Choir - The Na'ama Women's Choir was founded by it's conductor Mrs. Pnina Inbar. The Choir presently consists of 27 singers and a pianist. The choir received international recognition after winning the Gold Diploma at the International Mendelssohn competition in Germany (1996), and first prize at Shirat Hayamim International Choir competition in Israel that same year. Na'ama Choir won third prize at the "Arezzo Competition"; in August 2000. In 2002 Na'ama won a Second Prize at Beijing International Choir Festival, during China-Mongolia Concert Tour. Repertoire of the choir includes a broad scope of both classical and ethnic music reaching from Brahms, Schubert, Faure, Mendelssohn, Schumann, to Israeli composers such as Tzvi Avni, Dov Carmel, Sara Shoham & Andre Hajdu. New Israeli Vocal Ensemble. A group of fourteen professional singers under the leadership of Founder and Musical Director Yuval Ben-Ozer. A highly-acclaimed ensemble, they have performed in concerts and festivals in Israel, the Far East and Europe. On occasions the Ensemble is augmented with additional singers for major orchestral works. email: shamayim@actcom.co.il Oriah Ramat-Gan Chamber Choir. Founded in 1993 the choir is operated and supported by the Culture and Arts Authority of the City of Ramat-Gan, Israel. Many of the singers in the choir are music and music education professionals, and several are soloists in their own right, who have performed and continue to perform in a variety of venues. Shahar Choir - Founded in 1994 by Gila Brill, Shahar Choir is a mixed voice classical choir of young people (18-35). In recent years the choir has specialized in Baroque as well as modern music They rehearse every Saturday evening in Rehovot at the Weizmann Institute. Tel Aviv Chamber Choir. Founded by Musical Director Michael Shani in 1987, the mixed choir of around forty voices has built a fine reputation, both in Israel and abroad. The extensive range of secular and liturgical comprises the main part of the repertoire. Has performed with several international orchestras and conductors. Upper Galilee Choir. Membership of over forty five singers who hail from the Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights, the mixed choir has been in existence since 1978. Musical Director and Conductor since 1985 is Ron Zarchi. The choir has performed with distinction throughout Israel and abroad. Extensive repertoire of modern and classical works. Email: or@dafna.org.il Yoav Choir Founded in 1982 and currently under the baton of distinguished Musical Director Shimon Levtov. Forty five members, mostly residents of local kibbutzim and moshavim, meet weekly to rehearse. Extensive repertoire of modern and classical works, the choir performs throughout Israel and has toured abroad in Europe. Email amalia_q@kfar-menachem.org.il