In 2024, the America-Israel Cultural Foundation (AICF) proudly celebrated 85 years of supporting and uplifting Israel’s most promising young artists, helping to sustain art and music as a powerful source of healing, resilience, and unity during these challenging times. Through our Creative Excellence Grants, Instrument Loan program, Study Abroad scholarships, and our career-defining Aviv Competitions, AICF provided vital opportunities for musicians, artists, and dancers to develop their craft and pursue their artistic aspirations. This year’s programs saw incredible participation and impact, reinforcing the importance of investing in the future of Israeli culture.
AICF’s work would not be possible without the generosity of our dedicated supporters. Your contributions directly enable the next generation of Israeli artists to pursue their dreams, ensuring that their talent and passion continue to enrich audiences worldwide. We are honored to share this year’s accomplishments as well as some of the remarkable stories of artists whose journeys you have helped to shape.
“The musicians immediately volunteered to try and improve the lives of all those whose worlds were shattered, and their lives turned upside down by the war. Right after the outbreak of the war, my students from the Jerusalem Music Academy and I went to play for the survivors of the southern kibbutzim at Kibbutz Ein Gedi. Later, I was much involved in fundraisers to help all those displaced from the surrounding areas.”
Yuval Cohen
Saxophonist, composer, educator and bandleader
Since it was established in 1955, the Creative Excellence Grants Program has supported more than 18,000 emerging artists, providing crucial funding to help them reach their full potential. This past year, the Creative Excellence Grants Program was open to Music and Dance students. We received a record 620 applicants, with students auditioning across all disciplines. Over the course of 22 days, an esteemed jury of musicians, including university professors from the U.S., Europe, and New Zealand, as well as members of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, evaluated the candidates. The audition process itself is an invaluable experience for young musicians, helping them hone their skills and prepare for future professional challenges.
From this impressive pool, grants totaling $475,855 were awarded to 243 artists, 125 of whom were continuing grantees. These figures include second-year continuing music grants, which extend support to artists from the 2023 audition cycle in fields such as piano, voice, jazz, guitar/mandolin, percussion, Arab music, composition, and conducting.
Maya Jackoby, 16
Dance, AICF grantee 2022-2024
“This scholarship allows me to continue to develop in the field I love so much and to invest all my energies in improving my abilities and expanding my artistic horizons. Thanks to your support, I will be able to attend professional workshops, purchase the necessary equipment, and focus on intensive training that will advance me toward my goals. I see this scholarship not only as financial help, but also as confidence in me and my potential. Your recognition of my efforts strengthens me and motivates me to continue investing, strive for excellence, and fulfill my dreams in dance.“
AICF’s Study Abroad Grants Program provides crucial funding for Israeli artists pursuing advanced studies internationally. This initiative serves as a gateway for aspiring artists to hone their skills in the U.S. and beyond, offering them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to train at world-class institutions. Many of our recipients have studied at The Juilliard School, Hanns Eisler School of Music Berlin, and The Royal Academy of Music London, among others. Studying abroad enhances both skill development and global perspective while creating valuable international connections. This scholarship makes the path to becoming a professional artist more feasible by easing the financial burden on artists and their families.
For the 2024–2025 academic year, our Study Abroad Program continued to demonstrate remarkable success. The caliber of our recipients has steadily grown, and for the second consecutive year, we expanded support beyond music to include Fine Arts and Dance. In total, 96 applied, and 17 grants totaling $119,109 were awarded, including 13 grants in music.
Anna Zilberbord, 19
Violin, AICF grantee 2024
“This scholarship allows me to focus on my first-year studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Also, the money you kindly honored me with will reduce the financial pressure on my family. Two years ago, my parents moved from Russia to Israel. In the circumstances of the current war in Israel, the emigration process became much more challenging in all aspects of living. My biggest wish is to remove as much of the financial responsibility from their shoulders as possible. The scholarship made my dream come true. My parents don’t need to worry about funding my student’s life, because of the scholarship you kindly provide me.“
AICF’s renowned Aviv Competitions play a pivotal role in launching the careers of Israel’s most promising young musicians. Our most recent Aviv Competitions occurred this past December, with winners announced in early January. For 2024, 28 musicians between the ages of 21 and 30 competed in Piano, Violin, Viola, and Woodwinds. Many of these extraordinary individuals received support through AICF during their early years, enabling them to develop their talent and grow as musicians.
The 2024 Aviv Competitions prizes were awarded to:
Elad Navon, 24
Clarinet, AICF grantee 2017-2024, Aviv Competitions Prize for an Israeli Instrumental Piece Winner 2024
“The grant has been an invaluable support. For several years, I’ve had to manage my finances independently, and every grant I’ve received has helped me navigate a challenging time. Now, it’s especially crucial for my studies in the US, which come with significant expenses.“
In 2024, the America-Israel Cultural Foundation (AICF) proudly continued its tradition of sharing its impressive collection of string instruments with exceptional musicians in need through the William A. Schwartz Instrument Loan Program. This invaluable collection has been acquired through generous donations from institutions and independent donors in Israel and abroad. By ensuring that promising musicians who may not have the financial means to purchase a professional instrument can practice, audition, and perform on top-tier instruments, AICF upholds its commitment to fostering artistic excellence and preserving this treasured collection for future generations.
This past year, 32 top-excelling musicians were provided with world-class instruments. In addition, two harps, one oboe, and a piano from our instrument bank were on loan at the Hassadna Jerusalem Music Conservatory and two prestigious academies — The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance and The Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, where they benefited dozens of students. The AICF Instrument Bank, valued at over $6 million, continues to be a crucial resource for developing Israel’s finest musical talents.
To ensure that this collection remains available to our talented musicians, AICF invests in its upkeep each year. In 2024, we dedicated approximately $30,000 to cover insurance costs and support instrument repairs and preparation, ensuring that both new and returning recipients could continue honing their skills and sharing their music with the world.
Eden Meyer Khaiat, 22
Viola, AICF grantee 2017-2024, Instrument loan since 2021
“Thank you so much for assisting me with having an instrument, as it is helping me to have stable studies when I receive such a great loan from you. This unique viola helped me develop my personal sound and become clearer about who I am and what I am expressing as a musician. I believe that through this instrument, I’m expressing my ideas much more clearly.“
Our Periphery Outreach Program nurtures talent from Israel’s socioeconomic and geographic periphery by providing resources and support for music lessons with top teachers and masterclasses in underserved communities. In 2024, this program provided 72 private lessons with elite teachers to musicians from areas with limited access to music education.
Last year, the Periphery Outreach Program impacted underserved students from all parts of Israel, including the north and south. Recipients ranged in age from 15 to 19 and played the piano, violin, flute, and clarinet. Many of these students use the skills that they gain through this program to go on to compete for other AICF scholarships. In 2024, 26% of the Creative Excellence and Study Abroad recipients were residents of Israel’s periphery.
Tamar Haikin, 17
Flute, AICF grantee 2023-2024, Periphery Program grantee since 2023
“The programs have had a profound impact on my artistic development, enabling me to continue my studies while exploring new aspects of my playing. They have also been vital in refining my stage presence, allowing me to approach auditions and competitions with greater confidence and preparation. Participation in the AICF programs has significantly reduced the challenges I face in achieving my goals as someone living in a peripheral area while accelerating my musical progress.“
Unleashing Israel’s Artistic Potential on the Global Stage
Israel is home to extraordinary artistic talent, yet many gifted artists remain undiscovered due to limited access to the right opportunities. AICF’s Beyond Talent Program is changing that. Beyond Talent goes beyond traditional support—opening doors that emerging and mid-career artists cannot reach alone. By providing guidance, connections, exposure, and essential tools, the program transforms raw talent into a powerful force, ensuring that Israel’s leading artists shape the global cultural landscape.
Beyond Talent’s beta phase has provided valuable insights and confirmed the strong demand for the initiative. As we prepare for the official launch in spring 2025, the program is well-positioned to make a lasting impact on Israeli art and its global reach.
“A nation’s support of its arts is a matter of both national pride and cultural survival.”
Theodore Bikel
Austrian-American actor, folk singer, musician, composer, unionist, and political activist. Chair of the Board of Directors of the Partners for Progressive Israel