A Musical Summer at Hassadna
3 continents, 10 states, 15 locations,
75 students in Israel, 15 students abroad:
all in 1 musical summer!
World Wide
Portugal
Vitor Santos International Saxophone Competition
In July, 16-year-old Doron Hazan (Saxophone), student of Gersh Geller, won first prize at the prestigious competition for saxophone players in Portugal! We are very proud of him for this incredible acheivement.
Austria
Salzburg Opera Camps
6 Hassadna students participated this summer in the Salzburg Opera Camps, where 30 music students from around the world came together to prepare and perform a complete opera on their very own, in just one week’s work. The children were accompanied by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra players who performed with the students on their final performance – such an inspiring experience!
Russia
Moscow Gnessin Summer School
15-year-old Alma Shapiro (piano), student of Anat Paul, received masterclasses from renowned pianist and teacher Elena Berezkina at the two weeks Gnessin Summer School in Moscow.
Spain
Burgos Music Festival
14-year-old Eva Maazia (cello), student of Shmuel Magen, was invited by her teacher to participate in the Burgos Music Festival, where she received cello lessons and played in chamber music ensembles with new friends from all around the world.
Germany
Euro Music Festival & Academy in Halle
16-year-old Michael Busheri (piano), student of Rina Rosenman, attended the Euro Music Festival & Academy in Halle. The course was in many ways a celebration of pianism, as the participants received and attended different piano masterclasses and were exposed to piano teachers and students from all around the world.
New Hampshire, USA
Apple Hill Chamber Music Program
2 Hassadna students, Naor Equba (clarinet) – student of Ilya Shwarts, and Tom Shmarkov (violin) – student of Michael Gaisler, participated in the Apple Hill Summer Chamber Music Program, where they played and performed chamber music with young musicians from around the world, under the guidance of the inspiring Apple Hill faculy.
Naor Equba (right picture – center)
Philadelphia, USA
Philadelphia International Music Festival
15-year-old Michael Weinstein (piano), a student of Yizhak Vinokur, attended the Philadelphia International Music Festival, where he received masterclasses from renowned piano teachers and had the amazing opportunity to become an assistant conductor to the distinguished American conductor Thomas Hong – a dream come true for Michael.
New York City, USA
Jazz in Lincoln Center
16-year-old Guy Mauda (jazz saxophone), student of Boris Gamer, participated in the “Jazz at Lincoln Center” summer academy, where he received lessons from incredible jazz performers, played as a soloist with a Big Band orchestra, and performed in Jazz clubs all over New York City.
Massachusetts, USA
Duxbury Music Festival
17-year-old Elisabeth Gebramedhen (piano), student of Mina Dashevsky and Oxana Yablonskaya, was invited by her teacher Oxana to attend the Duxbury Music Festival, where sher received master classes from Oxana and played in piano ensembles. Together with the beautiful pastoral setting of Duxbury, and the warm embrace of the festival’s staff, Elisabeth received there a lot of inspiration to create and explore music.
In Israel
National Israeli Wind Orchestra summer camp
25 Hassadna students participated in the National Israeli Wind Orchestra summer camp led by the Ministry of Education. The two national orchestras – senior orchestra and junior orchestra – performed their final concert at the Jerusalem Theater, which was an inspiring and uplifting experience both for the young musicians on stage and the enthusiastic audience.
Young Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra + Keshet Kamerit
11 Hassadna students participated in the Young Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra and the Keshet Kamerit summer courses led by the Jerusalem Music Center in the Ben Shemen youth village. The two orchestras were this summer conducted by Lahav Shani, the Israeli Philharmonic’s new music director, and were inspired by his great passion and love for music.
Solo performances with the Ramat Gan Symphony Orchestra
3 Hassadna students had this past July the incredible opportunity to perform as soloists with the Ramat Gan Symphony Orchestra! This honor was given to them after they won auditions held by the symphony seeking young outstanding musicians to play with them in their special Gala concert “Soloists of the Future”. The three played beautifully and received great praise from the audience. We are very proud of them!
Murray Perahia summer course at the JMC
15-year-old Yali Zaken (piano), student of Lena Nemirovsky, was chosen among only 8 of Israel’s finest young pianists to participate in the prestigious outstanding pianists summer course led by renowned pianist Murray Perahia at the Jerusalem Music Center. The eight young pianists received masterclasses from Perahia, participated in group session activities and performed a beautiful final concert.
Chlil Bagalil camp
11 Hassadna cellists participated this summer in the Chlil Bagalil course in Sde Boker, led by leading Israeli cellists including 2 Hassadna teachers – Sivan Levi and Yoni Gotlibovitch. In the 4 days course, the students participated in masterclasses from distinguished cellists, including Ariel Tushinsky, received lessons, played together in a cello ensemble and received an improvisation workshop with Michael Wolpe.
Tel-Hai International Piano Master Classes Course
Upon Elisabeth Gebremedhan’s return to Israel from Massachusets, right after landing at Ben Gurion airport, she traveled straight to Sde Boker to attend the prestigious Tel Chai International Piano Master Classes Course
Red Sea Jazz Music Festival in Eilat
4 of Hassadna’s Jazz department students – Rinat, Udi, Nevo and Guy – joined the 2019 Red Sea Jazz Festival in Eilat for 8 days of inspiration: incredible performances by great players, distinguished teachers and performing in Jam sessions.
Jerusalem Clarinet Workshop
4 clarinet students of Hassadna – Matan, Michael, Ori and Geva – and Hassadna teacher Yehiel Lock participated in a week long clarinet workshop at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. The students received masterclasses from leading clarinet players from around the world, specializing both in classical and Kleizmer music!
Young Pianists programme at the Jerusalem Music Center
2 Hassadna piano students, Roi Kaminetzky and Hadar Rappoport, students of Rina Rosenman, participated in the young pianists summer course at the JMC. The course exposed the young pianists to the art of accompaniment, as they had the wonderful opportunity to accompany professional singers under the instruction of leading pianists.
Roi (upper row, second from left) and Hadar (bottom row, second from right)
Hassadna Camps
Sounds of Hassadna camp
15 Hassadna students, participants of the Sounds of Hassadna Choir, met together for an intense rehearsal session under the instruction of choir conductor Hilma Digilov and pianist Marina Schaevitch. The choir worked in preparation for a special opportunity – to record a piece by Emanuel Vahl with the Oratorio choirs. The empty halls of Hassadna filled with the girls’ sweet voices and it was a joy to see them so dedicated to their goal.
Voice development camp
4 voice development students in Maya Penington’s class – Anastasia, Gili, Hadas and Racheli – met together at Hassadna for a 3-day summer camp led by Maya, in which they worked on singing in an ensemble, canon singing, voice exercises, rhythm exercises and musical games.