Music

Composer and pianist Frank Peleg, and violin teacher Zvi Rotenberg founded Haifa Symphony Orchestra in 1950. Frank Peleg served as Music Director of the Orchestra for ten years, during which time the permanent conductor was Georg singer. He was succeeded by musical directors and/or permanent conductors Sergiu Comissiona, Avi Ostrowsky, Mendi Rodan, Samuel Freedman, Yuval Zaliouk, Dan Fogel, Uri Tepliz, Urs Schneider, Stanley Sperber and Christian Mandeal.

This endeavor was one of the Foundation's traditional initiatives. It afforded relatively young audiences to hear narrated concerts. Haifa Symphony Orchestra, whose purpose is to prepare the next generation of classical music fans, performs the concerts as an educational activity.

Musical Director: Maestro Xu Zhong
Director: Motti Eines

Haifa Symphony Orchestra is an integral and important part of the cultural life of the residents of Haifa and the North. The Orchestra is deeply rooted in Haifa, but is invited to perform many concerts all over Israel and to many international festivals, and serves as a cultural ambassador, well-known and in demand all over the world.

Bat Shir Choir is a superb vocal ensemble specializing in a wide repertoire and high performance level. Bat Shir is a unique educational-artistic project that works to reveal, teach and develop local talents in the field of vocal art, by creating musical educational continuum: singers grow under one roof while developing professionally, personally and as a group.

In swing time! Eighteen musicians—wind instrument players from the Haifa Symphony Orchestra, joined by leading jazz musicians from around the country—make up Haifa Big Band Orchestra, founded in 2008 by initiative of Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav.

Over the years, Haifa Arts Foundation has awarded scholarships to outstanding students of the Conservatory. Nine scholarships were awarded in 2014, ten in 2015.

"Beat" Music School, founded in 2006, operates as part of "Beat" Music and Culture Center, headed by Yuval Kaufman. It has about 250 students, aged 10-30, from Haifa and the North. Haifa Arts Foundation supports scholarships for disadvantaged students, allowing the North's future musicians to acquire musical education in a warm supporting environment.

In a ceremony held at the municipality's Convention Hall in January 2016, the Fund awarded 10 scholarships to outstanding students of the school.

In a ceremony held at the municipality's Convention Hall in January 2018, the Fund awarded 10 scholarships to outstanding students of the school.

 Music Scholarships 2020

Haifa Arts Foundation bestowed fifty scholarships to outstanding music students, Including ten  from Beat Music School

This year, no ceremony took place because of the Corona virus.

Youval Music and Youth Orchestras Center is the largest music center in Haifa, with approximately 350 children and adolescents who learn to play acoustic instruments of all kinds, including vocal training.

"Dunie Weizman" Conservatory is the oldest music school in Haifa, aimed to propagate and cultivate knowledge and musical education. About 300 students of all ages study at the Conservatory each year.

"Alcarmel" was founded in Haifa in1995 by music teacher Albert Ballan, to promote oriental music in Haifa and Israel, and to provide a positive atmosphere, with experienced musicians encouraging beginners, while maintaining high standards.

The Jewish-Arabic Orchestra is a unique formation of 15 Jews, Christians and Muslims (ages 14-24) from eastern Haifa. The orchestra, which performed in Israel, Germany and Poland in 2015, has a repertoire combining Jewish, Israeli, Arabic, ethnic, classical and world music. The orchestra performs arrangements of works by Bach, Jerusalem of Gold, Hallelujah, and also strings of songs in Moroccan and in Arabic by singers such as  Firuz and Farid al-Atrash, etc. Idan Sharon is the Musical Director of the Orchestra. 

In January 2016, at a scholarships awarding ceremony held in the City's Convention Hall, attended by Mrs. Hedva Almog, Deputy and Substitute Mayor of Haifa; Mrs. Bracha Sela, Secretary General and and Substitute Chair of the Foundation's board;  and Mrs. Aviva Spigelstein, Foundation Director; scholarship recipients and their families. Haifa Arts Foundation awarded a scholarship to student Liat Leibel, a student of the Music Department's School of the Arts.

Haifa Arts Foundation gave financial rewards to musicians who have won the first three places in the Young Pianist Competition 2014. In addition, the winners were booked to play in special concerts of The Haifa Chamber Music Society and first place winner, Michael Haj, From the Rubin Conservatory, was invited to perform as a soloist in a concert in the Classic Friday series with the Haifa Symphony Orchestra.

Haifa Arts Foundation awarded winners of the first three places in the Young Player Competition. The competition took place as part of the 6^thYotzrim Yotzim Festival in 2010, produced by the Youth Authority, municipality of Haifa and sponsored by Haifa Arts Foundation, Haifa Chamber Music Society and Haifa Symphony Orchestra. Seventeen classical music players—on piano, strings and wind instruments—from local music schools, grades 9 to 12, submitted into the competition. Eight of them made it to the final stage.

 Violinist Amir Liberson, student of the Samuel Rubin Conservatory in Haifa, won first prize from Haifa Arts Foundation at the Young Player Competition that was part of 2009 Yotzrim Yotzim Festiva, produced by the Youth Authority of the municipality of Haifa. Liberson played at the award concert with Haifa Symphony Orchestra.

For many years now, the Haifa Chamber Music Society conducts concerts in various venues and churches in the city. Many concert series are part of the Society's annual program, including the ancient music series Mostly Baroque, presented at the House of Grace Church.

Haifa Music Center was established under the musical direction of maestro Ada Pelleg. The Center held a regular concert series, and in addition initiated few annual events that the Foundation helped finance:

International Competition for Playing and Writing Recorder Music