Maxim Ostrovsky was born in 1996. Since 2016, he is a student at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, Tel Aviv University, class of Asaf Zohar. Previously he studied with Irina Ostrovsky. In 2018 he completed his IDF service as an “Outstanding Musician”. Maxim won prizes in the “Israel Chopin Piano Competition”, Tel Aviv and in “Piano Forever”, Ashdod in 2011, 2012 and 2014. Maxim took part in festivals and concerts in Israel and abroad in such venues as Einav Culture Centre and the Israel Conservatory of Music Tel Aviv, Herzliya Conservatory, and in concerts of the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music. Maxim participated in the International Culture Festival “Rezonanzen” in St. Moritz, Switzerland, where he performed solo piano recital, played with a chamber ensemble and received a scholarship. He also participated in a festival in Langenberg, Germany, where he performed solo piano recital and in a chamber ensemble with Emil Rovner, cello Professor at the Hochschule für Musik “Carl Maria von Weber” in Dresden. Maxim participated in the Tel Hai International Piano Master Classes. He received AICF grants from 2012 to 2015 and from 2018 to 2019.

Maxim Ostrovsky
Pianist, AICF Grant Recepient

Natanel Grinshtein was born in Israel in 1995, and at age 5 began his piano studies with Michael Kishinevsky. At age 14 he began his studies in the Givatayim Municipal Conservatory, class of Michal Tal, with whom he continued his studies at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, Tel Aviv University, completing his Bachelor’s Degree with highest honors. In 2018 Natanel continued his studies at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire with Pascal Nemirovski. Natanel won numerous prizes and grants, among them first prize at the “Primavera Pianistica” Competition in Belgium, second prize at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire International Piano Competition, second prize at the International Competition in Mayenne, France, third prize at the “Kan Voice of Music Young Artist Competition” in Jerusalem, as well as Zefunot Culture Foundation and the Stern scholarships. Natanel performed as a soloist with many orchestras in Israel and overseas, including the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Ashdod Symphony Orchestra, Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts Symphony Orchestra and MusicFest Peugia Festival Orchestra. He received AICF grants from 2010 to 2015 and from 2018 to 2019.

Natanel Grinshtein
Pianist, AICF Grant Recepient

Alexandra Segal was born in 1995. She began her piano studies at age 6 under Natalie Tolpygo. Alexandra holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, Tel Aviv University in the class of Tomer Lev. She is currently studying towards her Master’s Degree at the Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt in Weimar, Germany under Balázs Szokolay. Alexandra took second prize in WPTA Competition (2019), first prize in “Piano Forever”, Ashdod, “Arianne Katcz” and “Pnina Salzman” Competitions (all in 2017), third prize in Riga International Piano Competition (2012) and first prize in “Crimean Spring” in Ukraine (2010). She took part in Masterclasses led by Michel Béroff, Murray Perahia, Andrzej Jasiński and Meng-Chieh Liu. She performed as a soloist with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Haifa Symphony Orchestra, Buchmann-Mehta School of Music Symphony Orchestra, Raanana Symphonette, Kiev Chamber Orchestra and the Donetsk Philharmonic Orchestra. Alexandra played concerts in Israel, USA, Poland, Ukraine, Latvia, Germany, Italy and France. She received AICF grants from 2016 to 2019.

Alexandra Segal
Pianist, AICF Grant Recepient

Almog Segal was born in 1995 in Israel. He is a first prize winner at the “Clairmont” Competition, “MozArte Competition” (Germany), “Kan Voice of Music Young Artist Competition”, “Piano Forever”, Ashdod, “Pnina Salzman Competition”, “Israel Chopin Piano Competition” and third prize at the “Tel Aviv International Piano Competition”. He performed in concerts and festivals across Europe, USA and the far east, and played with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Aachener Sinfoniker Orchester, Kiev Virtuosi Orchestra, Hong-Kong Academy Orchestra and all major symphony orchestras in Israel, under such conductors as Alexander Hülshoff, Sharon Andrea-Choa, Dmitry Yablonsky, Vag Papian and Uri Segal. With “Multipiano” ensemble he recorded for “Naxos” concerti for two pianos, accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Almog began his piano studies at the Jerusalem Conservatory Hassadna with Luisa Yoffe, and composition studies with Israel Sharon. He graduated from the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, Tel Aviv University, where he studied with Tomer Lev. He is currently studying at the Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar with Balázs Szokolay, supported by DAAD scholarship (2019). He is a recipient of AICF Scholarships from 2012 to 2019.

Almog Segal
Pianist, AICF Grant Recepient

Eran Sulkin is a 22 years old pianist from Israel, a student at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London under Ronan O’Hora. He graduated from the Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts and served in the IDF as an “Outstanding Musician”. From 2011 to 2015 he studied at the Israel Conservatory of Music Tel Aviv with Natalia Blumenfeld. From 2015 to 2018 Eran studied at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, Tel Aviv University, class of Asaf Zohar. Eran performed in a chamber concert at the “Joseph Joachim” Concert Hall, Berlin University of the Arts (2017), in Musikhochschule Lübeck (2016), and the Aspen Music Festival, Colorado (2018). Eran won prizes in “Kan Voice of Music for the Young Artist”, Jerusalem and “Piano Forever”, Ashdod competitions, and was a semi-finalist in the International Johannes Brahms Competition, Austria (2018). He participated in Masterclasses led by Murray Perahia, Christoph Eschenbach, Andrzej Jasiński and Arie Vardi. He received AICF grants from 2012 to 2019.

Eran Sulkin
Pianist, AICF Grant Recepient

Nadav Katan was born in 1991 in Israel. He began his piano studies in the Karmiel Conservatory with Diana Bucur. From 2010 to 2013 Nadav served in the IDF as an “Outstanding Musician”. In 2015 he completed his Bachelor’s Degree at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, Tel Aviv University, class of Asaf Zohar. In 2017, Nadav completed his Master’s Degree at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, class of Naum Grubert. Currently, Nadav is pursuing his Doctorate at the University of Antwerp and the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp, under the guidance of Sergei Edelmann. Throughout his studies, Nadav received scholarships such as the “Holland Scholarship” (by Dutch government) and the “Talent Grant” (by Conservatorium van Amsterdam). in 2015 he won first prize at the “Arianne Katcz” Competition at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music; In 2010 Nadav won first prize at the “Sharon Tabor-Pintz” Competition at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. He received AICF grants from 2010 to 2015.

Nadav Katan
Pianist, AICF Grant Recepient

Dmitry Askerov began his violin studies at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, Tel Aviv University at age 16, class of Lena Mazor. He finished his Master’s Degree at the Zurich University of the Arts under Ilya Gringolts. He participated in Keshet Eilon International Summer Mastercourse. Dmitry is a prize winner at the International “Remember Enescu” Violin Competition in Romania (2016) and the Clairmont Competition in Israel (2012). Dmitry played as a soloist with orchestras around the world such as the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. He also performed solo recitals in USA, Europe and Israel. He participated in Masterclasses led by Zachar Bron, Ivry Gitlis, Shlomo Mintz, Ida Haendel, Hagai Shaham, Miriam Fried, Julian Rachlin, Gavriel Lipkind and Leonidas Kavakos. Dmitry is the founder and artistic director of the Crescendo Music Festival in Florida. He plays a violin made by Philipp Augustin, on loan by generous donors. He received AICF grants from 2001 to 2014.

Dmitry Askerov
Violinist, AICF Grant Recepient

Rinat Erlichman was born in 1996 and grew up in Moshav Bitha. She began her violin studies at age 7 at the Merhavim Conservatory in the Negev with Irina Miskov. Rinat continued her studies at the Jerusalem Conservatory Hassadna and at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance with Michael Gaisler. Rinat served in the IDF as an “Outstanding Musician”. She is currently studying at the Juilliard School under Itzhak Perlman and Li Lin. Rinat attended the Perlman Music Program, the Young Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Aspen Music Festival and Heifetz Institute. She performed recitals in Paris, in London – Murray Perahia’s house, in Israel’s President residence, and as a soloist with the Haifa Symphony Orchestra. Rinat performs voluntarily at the Mental Medical Center in Be’er Sheva. She took part in a special project to integrate children from the Ethiopian community in Israel with the classical music world. Rinat plays a violin made by Goffredo Cappa, on loan courtesy of Yehuda Zisapel. She received AICF grants from 2005 to 2019.

Rinat Erlichman
Violinist, AICF Grant Recepient

Victoria Gelman was born in 1997 in Tiberias. She began her violin studies at age 5; among her teachers are Irina Etigon, Mila Feldman and Chaim Taub. Victoria completed her Bachelor’s Degree at the Buchmann-Metha School of Music, Tel Aviv University, class of Hagai Shaham. She is currently studying towards her Master’s Degree at the University of the Arts, Berlin, with Mark Gothoni, as well as a Certificate of Performance at the Music and Arts University, Vienna, under Julian Rachlin. She won third prize in the International Competition for Young Musicians in Lithuania (2004), first prize in “Maestro” Competition for Young Musicians in Israel (2008 – solo performance; 2013 – string quartet), second prize in BMSM’s Solo Competition (2015) and first prize in the Clairmont Competition (2018). As a soloist, Victoria performed with Raanana Symphonnete conducted by Gil Shohat, and with the BMSM Symphony Orchestra – conducted by Eyal Ein Habar, as well as at the Bronfman Auditorium, conducted by Yoel Levi. Victoria plays a French violin made by Jules Granjon, and a bow – both donated by WIZO. She received AICF grants from 2005 to 2009.

Victoria Gelman
Violinist, AICF Grant Recepient

Shai Nakash was born in 1995 in France. He began his violin studies with Marina Ziskind at the Raanana Music Center and later studied with Irina Svetlova and Ilya Konovalov at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, Tel Aviv University. He is currently completing his studies at the Barenboim-Said Academy in Berlin under Mihaela Martin. Shai performed as a soloist with several Israeli orchestras such as Raanana Symphonette conducted by Gil Shohat and the Israel Netanya Kibbutz Orchestra conducted by Doron Salomon. A participant of Salzburg’s Mozarteum International Summer Academy and of the Keshet Eilon International String Mastercourse, he also played in Masterclasses led by Chaim Taub, Zakhar Bron, Ivry Gitlis and Miriam Fried. Shai tours regularly at the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra conducted by Daniel Barenboim, who coaches him in Masterclasses as a solo, chamber and orchestra player. He received AICF grants from 2009 to 2016 and in 2019.

Shai Nakash
Violinist, AICF Grant Recepient

Yamen Saadi was born in Nazareth, where he began violin studies at the Barenboim-Said Conservatory. He was later taught by Chaim Taub, former leader of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Yamen studied at the Barenboim-Said Academy in Berlin under Mihaela Martin, with whom he is studying since October 2019 at the Kronberg Academy, assisted by the Jürgen Fitschen/Friederike Lohse scholarship. At age 11, Yamen joined the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, founded and conducted by Daniel Barenboim, of which he became leader just six years later. Yamen performed his first solo concert at age 11 with the Haifa Symphony Orchestra; since then he played as a soloist with many orchestras and his International debut was with the Valencia Orchestra. he won first prize in the Paul Ben-Haim Competition and second prize in the Clairmont Competition. Yamen is an active chamber musician, who participated in many festivals, including Rolandseck, Grachtenfestival, Hamburg International Chamber Music Festival, Gotland Chamber Music Festival, the Voice of Music in the Upper Galilee and the Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival. He received AICF grants from 2011 to 2016 and 2019.

Yamen Saadi
Violinist, AICF Grant Recepient

Tal First began violin studies with Geri Ferber and continued them at the Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts and the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music with Svetlana Simannovsky. Tal is currently studying at the Juilliard School under Li Lin. He is a member of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Barenboim, and “Musethica” program. He served as concertmaster (principal violinist) of the Young Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the Thelma Yellin Symphony Orchestra. Tal is a graduate of the JMC’s David Goldman Program, and participates in the Perlman Music Program and “Keshet Eilon” International String Mastercourse. He played in Masterclasses led by Leonidas Kavakos, Julian Rachlin, Ivry Gitlis and Christian Tetzlaff. Tal performed as a soloist with the Thelma Yellin Symphony Orchestra, the Galilee Symphony Orchestra and New Zealand’s Sinfonia for Hope, as well as recitals, including “Juilliard @ SOPAC” series in 2017 and 2019. Tal plays a bow from the Juilliard School instrument collection, and a violin made by Paolo Antonio Testore, on loan courtesy of Yehuda Zisapel. He received AICF grants from 2011 to 2012 and from 2015 to 2019.

Tal First
Violinist, AICF Grant Recepient

Edi Kotlyar was born In Israel and grew up in Tel Aviv. At age 12 he studied at the Givatayim Municipal Conservatory with Lena Mazor. In 2013 he began his studies at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, Tel Aviv University, and in 2015 at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin under Stephan Picard. He regularly takes part in “Musethica” activities in Germany, Israel, Spain, Sweden and France. He performed in Masterclasses led by Itzhak Perlman, Ivry Gitlis, Miriam Fried, Tabea Zimmermann and Pavel Vernikov. Alongside modern violin, Edi is passionate about Baroque violin playing, and plays in the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin. Edi took first prizes at the Raanana Competition in memory of Eran Zoldan, the National competition “Tel Aviv 2010” and the Turgeman Competition. He won the String Competition of the BMSM, as well as the Chamber Music Competition together with the Quartet he founded during his studies there. He received AICF grants from 2007 to 2019. He plays a violin made by Nicolas Vuillaume, on loan from the AICF.

Edi Kotlyar
Violinist, AICF Grant Recepient

Misha Balan-Dorfman attended the Tchaikovsky Conservatory, after finishing his studies at the “Gnessin” Moscow Special School of Music with Elena Ozol and Natalia Fichtenholz. Among his teachers are Alexander Rudin, Lioudmila Shubina and Vladimir Balshin – member of the Borodin Quartet. At the Haute Ecole de Musique de Lausanne, Misha studied with Alexander Zemtsov, and at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, Tel Aviv University, with Lilach Levanon. He participated in such European music festivals as Encuentro de Música y Academia de Santander, Stavanger Kammermusikfestival, Zermatt Festival Academy and “Musethica”, and won scholarships from Swiss and German foundations. In Israel he played in the Tel Aviv Soloists Ensemble, Raanana Simphonette, and chamber music concerts in a young trio with flautist Anna Kondrashina and harpist Marina Ganshin. Misha participated in Masterclasses led by Wilfried Strehle, Yuri Gandelsman, Lawrence Dutton, Nobuko Imai and Nils Mönkemeyer. He played under such conductors as Zubin Mehta, Valery Gergiev, Krzysztof Penderecki and Marek Janowski, Misha is currently studying at the University of Arts in Berlin under Julia Rebekka Adler, in addition to orchestra performance at the Karajan-Academy and the Dresdner Philharmonie.

Misha Balan-Dorfman
Violist

Maayan Gabel was born in 1998 in Israel. He is a student at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, Tel Aviv University, class of Lilach Levanon; he is the violist of the Gertler Quartet – Buchmann-Mehta School’s representative string quartet. Maayan is a graduate of the Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts and Givatayim Municipal Conservatory. He served in the IDF as an “Outstanding Musician”. Maayan performed as a soloist with the Haifa Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Chamber Orchestra and the Thelma Yellin Symphony Orchestra and played with renowned musicians such as Vadim Gluzman, Kati Debretzeni, Hagai Shaham and Hillel Zori. Maayan was a member and the David Goldman Program for Outstanding Young Musicians of the Jerusalem Music Centre and of the Perlman Music Program. He participated in Masterclasses led by Tabea Zimmermann, Hartmut Rohde, Carol Rodland, Roland Glassel, Miguel de Silva, Yizhak schotten, Tatjana Masurenko, Menahem Pressler, Lawrence Power and Krzystof Chorzelski. From 2016 to 2018 he attended the “Keshet Eilon” International String Mastercourses, as well as the Carl Flesch Academy in Germany. He received AICF grants from 2013 to 2019.

Maayan Gabel
Violist, AICF Grant Recepient

Leah Glick completed her Bachelor’s Degree at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance under Michael Gaisler and Roi Shiloah, continued her Master’s Degree studies at the Mannes School of Music under Daniel Panner and is currently studying towards her Graduate Diploma at the Juilliard School with Roger Tapping. Leah participated in Masterclases led by Richard O’neill, Milan Milisavljeić, Roberto Diaz and Daniel Phillips, and coached in chamber music by the Jerusalem Quartet members. She performed as a soloist and in chamber and orchestral music at such venues as Carnegie, Alice Tully and Tishman halls, New York; Konzerthaus Berlin; Menuhin Hall, London; Konzerthaus and Musikverein, Vienna; Bronfman Auditorium, Tel Aviv; and the Jerusalem Music Centre. Leah participated in the Young Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, “Orford Music Festival” and “Classical Tahoe”. She received Ronen Foundation and “President” scholarships. She played in the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, and served as principal violist at the Mannes Orchestra. She received AICF grants from 2013 to 2015 and from 2017 to 2019.

Leah Glick
Violist, AICF Grant Recepient

Maya Tal was born in 1993 in Israel and began her violin studies at age 6. After attending the Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts, she continued her violin studies at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, Tel Aviv University under Hagai Shaham and Lena Mazor, and at the same time studied viola with Lilach Levanon, Maya completed her viola studies and Bechelor’s Degree at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater “Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy” in Leipzig under Tatjana Masurenko. She performed in such festivals as Seiji Ozawa Academy in Switzerland, “Musethica” Chamber Music Festival in Spain and “Keshet Eilon” International String Mastercourse. Maya is currently completing her Master’s Degree at the Hochschule für Musik “Hanns Eisler” in Berlin with Tabea Zimmermann. She received AICF grants from 2017 to 2019.

Maya Tal
Violist, AICF Grant Recepient

Chaim Kapusta, 23 years old, lives in Ramat Gan. He is in his fourth and final year of studying towards his Bachelor’s Degree at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, Tel Aviv University, class of Lilach Levanon, where he is also playing in the Symphony Orchestra. During his second year at the Buchmann-Mehta School, Chaim performed Shostakovich’s Sonata for viola and piano, op. 147 in a recital, and won the third prize in the school’s String Competition; In his third year of studies at the BMSM, he performed Schumann’s “Märchenbilder” for viola and piano, op. 113 in a recital, and won first prize in the school’s Chamber Music Competition. Chaim participated in Masterclasses led by Lawrence Power, Tatjana Masurenko and Garth Knox, and last August he took part in the “Keshet Eilon” International String Mastercourse, where he performed chamber music with Olga and Ilya Kaler. He received AICF grant in 2019.

Chaim Kapusta
Violist, AICF Grant Recepient

Tomer Ornan is an Acclaimed Israeli clarinetist who resides in both Switzerland and Israel. During the current season he serves as substitute Bass Clarinet at the Israel Philharmonic and in parallel, studies for his Master at the Basel Academy of Music, class of François Benda. Beforehand, He served as Assistant Principal and Eb Clarinet of the Jerusalem and Halfa Symphonies, and completed his Bachelor at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, class of Yevgeny Yehudin. He has played as guest with all of the renowned Israeli orchestras such as the Israel Symphony, Israel Chamber, Israel Camerata, Israel Sinfonietta, Meitar Ensemble and more, as well as in Shanghai and Germany, under the baton of Zubin Mehta, Vasily Petrenko, Christoph Eschenbach and Lahav Shani among others. As a soloist, He performed with the Haifa Symphony, the Ra’anana Symphonette, and the BMSOMSO under the baton Lahav Shani. Tomer has been a recipient of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation during 2011-2018; He was 4 times a prizewinner at the Israeli winds competition and has won prizes in all of the four BMSOM Competitions. In his youth, He served as the clarinet section leader of the IDF Orchestra and was a member of the Young Israel Philharmonic. His further teachers were Mira Meerovic, Mordechai Rechtman, Shiri Kahana and Mario Solan.

Tomer Ornan
Clarinetist, AICF Grant Recepient

Rachel Eilat (Furman) Born in 1994. Rachel is a flutist and a student of Master degree at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music under the tuition of Guy Eshed and completed her bachelor degree at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance under the tuition of Professor Yossi Arnheim. Rachel spent nine years studying first at the urban music centre in Tel Aviv and then at the Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts, under the instruction of Mr Rami Tal. In 2019, Rachel had won an outstanding excellence scholarship from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation in addition to the previous prizes in the years 2009-2013 in the field of classical music. In 2013, she entered the Israeli army as a “talented musician”. In addition, Rachel had scholarships of the Ronen Foundation (2010-2019) and the Heseg Foundation (2015-2019). Furthermore, Rachel was performing solo with the Symphony Orchestra of Thelma Yellin, joined the “Goldman program” and at the junior Israeli Philharmonic. In 2018-2019 Rachel won first prize in academy woodwinds competition and second prize in Dina Turgeman chamber music competition. Besides, Rachel has played in Master Classes with Hansgeorg Schmeiser, Emely Beynon and Andras Adorjan.

Rachel Eilat
Flulist, AICF Grant Recepient

Ayelet Goldberg began her flute studies at the Kfar Saba Conservatory with Marta Meccabe Dayan. In 2015 Ayelet enlisted to the IDF Orchestra and studied for two years with Eyal Ein Haber. Ayelet is currently studying second year at the Tel-Aviv Academy of Music for her BA with Guy Eshed. Ayelet participated in master classes with Noam Buchman, Yossi Arnheim, Linda Bronmayer and Hansgiaorg Schmeizer. Ayelet played with the Israel Philharmonic orchestra and Zubin Mehta, Kiril Petrenko, Lahav Shani and Pablo Heras Casado as part of the Practicum program of Tel Aviv university. Ayelet won a scholarship from the America Israel Cultural Foundation in 2019.Ayelet played solo with Haifa symphony.

Ayelet Goldberg
Flutist, AICF Grant Recepient

Lior Michel Virot (23) born in Zurich, Switzerland began his oboe training at the Municipal Conservatory of Netanya, Israel in 2006 with Boris Banti and in 2009 with Boris Baev. Between 2009 and 2014 he was a member of the Young Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Today Lior is the Principal Oboe of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra IBA He studies in the Buchmann Mehta School of Music (BMSOM) at Tel Aviv University, with Mr. Dudu Carmel, Principal Oboe of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO). He has performed as a soloist and as a guest with various orchestra including the IPO, Haifa Symphony Orchestra, the Israeli Chamber Orchestra, the Kibbutzim orchestra, Ra’anana Symphonette Orchestra and with the Tel Aviv soloist ensemble. Lior won merit scholarships from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation and from the Jerusalem Music Center since 2011.

Lior Michel Virot
Oboist, AICF Grant Recepient

Doron Laznow was born in Jerusalem, Israel. He is a student at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia in the class of Prof. Daniel Matsukawa. Doron began his bassoon studies at the Jerusalem Academy of Music High School with Prof. Richard Paley. He is a recipient of the AICF “outstanding excellence” scholarship for the year 2019/20. Doron performed as a soloist with orchestras, including at the Aspen Music Festival, with The Haifa Symphony, Symphonette Ra’anana, and more. He won the Aspen Music Festival Woodwind Competition in 2017, and the Israeli National Woodwind Competition in Kfar-Saba in 2016. He performs regularly with professional orchestras and ensembles such as The Israeli Philharmonic, The Haifa Symphony, The Israeli Chamber Orchestra, The Jerusalem Symphony, Kaleidoscope, Symphony In C, The 21st-Century Ensemble, Meitar Ensemble and more. Doron have served in the IDF in the “Outstanding Musician” program in the years 2013 – 2016.

Doron Laznow
Bassoonist, AICF Grant Recepient

Omer Levi was born in 1994, in Petach Tikva, Israel. In 2013 he won an excellence scholarship from the America-Israel Foundation, which he still gets supported by until this day. He has started learning the bassoon in the age of 9, in the Petach-Tikva Municipal Conservatory, under the guidance of Vered Akrish, Reuven Mozes, and David Gru. Omer has completed his Bachelor’s degree in 2016, in the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, Tel Aviv University, in the class of Prof. Maurizio Paez. In 2019 he had finished his Master’s in HfMT Cologne, in the class of Prof. Georg Kluetsch and Bram van Sambeek. Omer is studying towards another Maser’s in the same school, in Contemporary Music Interpretation. Omer had played in various music festivals around the world, including the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, Moritzburg Festival, Campos do Jordao Winter Festival, and more.

Omer Levi
Bassoonist, AICF Grant Recepient

Jonathan was born in Israel in 1997. He started playing the recorder when he was 7 and when he was 11, he moved to play the Clarinet with the teacher Eva Wasserman. At the age of 16 he started studying with the Israel Philharmonic Clarinetist Yevgeney Yehudin. Jonathan won first prize in Kfar Saba woodwinds competition (2016,2018), third prize in Buchmann Mehta annual competition (2015,2018) and received the Ronen foundation scholarship, the Moses Shlush Outstanding Player Scholarship from the Young Philharmonic Orchestra, scholarship by the name of Shen Dor, scholarships from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation and scholarships from Givatayim conservatory and town hall. Jonathan played as a soloist with many orchestras such as The Israel Philharmonic, The Israel Chamber Orchestra, Haifa Symphony Orchestra and Buchmann Mehta School of Music Orchestra. He played as first chair with the YIPO, Buchmann Mehta orchestra, Thelma Yellin Orchestra (In which he played as a soloist as well) and more. Jonathan played Chamber Music projects in ensembles on behalf of the Jerusalem Music Center and the David Goldman program for outstanding musicians, with the guidance of Eyal Ein Habar, Mouricio Paez, Yossi Arnheim Asaf Zohar, Hillel Zori and many others. He also participated in ensembles on behalf of Buchman Mehta School of Music. Jonathan played with many orchestras such as the Jerusalem Symphony, Haifa Symphony Orchestra, Beer Sheva Sinfonietta and more. Jonathan played in master classes with teachers such as Chen Halevi, Franklin Cohen, Martin Frost and more. Jonathan finished his Bachelor’s degree at the Buchman Mehta School of music in Clarinet performance and started his one year active 2nd Clarinet with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.

Jonahtan Leibovitz
Calinetist, AICF Grant Recepient

Talya Morad was born in 1998. Talya is currently a music student in her senior year as a bassoonist at the Buchmann Mehta School of Music, under the guidance of Daniel Mazaki. She began her bassoon studies with Mr. Richard Paley. Talya is also a baroque recorder player, studied in Ilana Fishkovich’s class and later in Drora Bruck’s class. Talya won the International Recorder Competition in Tel Aviv and performed as a soloist playing the Brandenburg concerti of Bach with the BMSM Symphony Orchestra and Ensemble Spectrum. Talya played as a bassoon player in the Young Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra and in many ensembles under the guidance of: Bruce Weinstein, Avichay Ornoy, Yuval Admoni, Asaf Zohar, Kenneth Weiss and more. In 2016 Talya won the status of an outstanding musician in the army by The Israeli Ministry of Culture. Since October 2018 Talya is playing in the BMSM Symphony Orchestra. Talya received scholarships for her bassoon studies from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation since 2013. This year, 2019, Talya won a high excellence scholarship from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation.

Talya Morad
Bassoonist, AICF Grant Recepient

Tomer Amrani was born in 1994. As a soloist, Tomer Amrani has performed with The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, The Israel Opera Orchestra, Thelma Yellin Orchestra’s tour in Europe and more. He studies with Mr. Mathieu Dufour, the principal flute of the Berlin Philharmonic and he was also mentored by Mr. Emmanuel Pahud. Graduated Bachelor of music from the Barenboim-Said Academy (Berlin). Co-principal flute of Maestro Daniel Barenboim’s West Eastern Divan Orchestra with which he has performed in some of the most famous concert halls and festivals including the Carnegie Hall, Albert Hall (BBC Proms), Berliner Philharmonie, Philharmonie de Paris, The Lucerne Festival and The Salzburg Festival. Mr. Amrani is awards winner in numerous competitions including The Jerusalem Academy winds and percussion competition (2015), The National Woodwind Competition in Israel (2012), The “Eran Zoldan” Music Soloists Competition (2012). His awards include scholarships from the Barenboim-Said Foundation, ARPE Foundation (Switzerland) and The America-Israel Cultural Foundation between the years 2007-2019.

Tomer Amrani
Flutist, AICF Grant Recepient

Hed Bahack was born in 1994 in Kfar Saba. He started his piano studies at the age of 6, and at the age of 13 started studying classical guitar and jazz guitar. He studied at Metro-West high school music department, where he graduated with honors in music theory and performance. Hed studied composition with Mr. Michael Shenhav and Ms. Hadas Pe’ery, and he currently studies composition with Mr. Ruben Seroussi, and piano with Ms. Adela Umansky. Hed is a 4th year student of Composition and Musicology at Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, where he won excellence scholarships for every year of his studies. His works have been performed by the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music Orchestra, the Chamber Choir of the School, and by ensembles of students at the Contemporary Music Workshop.

Hed Bahack
Composer

Omri Kochavi, born 1994. Israeli born, New York based composer and guitarist. As a composer, Omri’s pieces were performed internationally by ensembles such as PHACE Ensemble (Vienna), Meitar Ensemble (Israel), and Mannes Guitar Ensemble (New York). His awards include 2nd prize in The Israeli National Composition Competition (2019) and the Dean’s Award for composition at Mannes. His piece “Fantasy for Solo Violin” was recently selected for publishing by the Institute for Israeli Music. As a guitarist, Omri performs regularly in Tel Aviv and New York, in both jazz and classical guitar. His awards include the Ran Baron Scholarship at the Israeli Conservatory and the 2nd prize and Spanish prize at the Israeli National Guitar Competition. Omri holds a B.F.A with honors from The New School, studying composition at Mannes with Dr. Lowell Liebermann and Jazz guitar at The School of Jazz with teachers such as Reggie Workman and Ingrid Jensen.

Omri Kochavi
Composer, AICF Grant Recepient

Born in Tel Aviv in 1990, Udi (Ohad) Perlman studied with Menachem Wissenberg and Yinam Leef at The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, with Wolfgang Rihm at the Hochschule für Musik Karlsruhe and with Jörg Widmann at the Barenboim-Said Akademie in Berlin. Perlman won the 2018 Israel’s Prime Minister’s Award for Composers, Klon Prize of The Israeli Composers League, 1st Prize at the National Composition Competition of the Israel Conservatory, as well as prizes from the Hamburger Camerata’s International Composer Competition and the Pnina Avni Competition. He received scholarships from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation, the Siday Fellowship for Musical Creativity and the Baden-Württemberg-Stipendium. Perlman participated as composition fellow in Meitar Ensemble’s “Tedarim” Project for contemporary music and was Composer-in-Residence at Herrenhaus Edenkoben in southwest Germany. His works have been performed in Austria, Germany, Israel, Italy, Spain, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States.

Udi Perlman
Composer, AICF Grant Recepient

Shiri Riseman is a composer, conductor and singer born in 1992. She is a composition graduate of the Jerusalem Music Academy. Studied with the composers Prof. Josef Bardanashvilli and Dr. Karel Volniansky and with the conducter Yuval Zorn. Shiri is a graduate of the Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts and attended to The Centre for Middle Eastern Classical Music in Jerusalem where she specialized in Indian music with the singer Nurit Ofer. She won the AICF excellence grant for composition studying for the year of 2018. She had also received the Siday Fellowship for Musical Creativity by the Jerusalem Institute of contemporary music for the years 2017-2018. Her works were performed by the Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart, Mivos Quartet (New-York), Trío Arbós (Spain), Modalius Ensemble (Israel) and more. Festivals and concert series in which Riseman’s works have been performed include: Archipel Festival (Geneve), Royaumont Festival (France), The Israeli Music Festival, the ContComp events (Haifa) and CEME Festival (Tel-Aviv). She has participated in various international masterclasses, with composers as George Friedrich Haas, Franck Bedrossian Katharina Rosenberger, and Mark Barden. Shiri Founded and conducts the Musrara Choir in Jerusalem. She is also a member of the collective choir “Great Gehenna Choir”.

Shiri Riseman
Composer, AICF Grant Recepient