Michael Wolpe - 'JMI Visiting Composer from Israel'

Michael Wolpe, the Head of Music Theory, Conducing and Composition at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, will visit the UK several times over the next three years. He will create meaningful connections between British and Israeli musicians and institutions.

Michael offers a range of activities from Illustrated talks on 'Music in Israel - Between East and West: The evolution of distinctive Israeli styles and techniques both in art and popular music.'

He also offers masterclasses and seminars for composers, instrumentalists and singers as well as one- or more day programmes for music colleges featuring one or a group of composers. He is establishing exchanges of professors and students with the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance.

Michael Wolpe will be Artistic Director of the JMI Jewish Culture Day on the South Bank on Sunday 30 November, which this year celebrates Israeli and British music. Four concerts and foyer events all day will showcase music by revered senior, as well as younger British and Israeli composers. The featured composer will be Tzvi Avni.

Musicians from British music colleges are warmly invited to participate. (See list of Tzvi Avni chamber works). Workshops and masterclasses with Tzvi Avni will take in the week prior to 30 November

The chamber concerts will take place in the Purcell Room during the day on Sunday 30 November - when Tzvi Avni will be the guest of honour. Book the date now and for updates on the programme see the JMI Website www.jmi.org.uk

Seminar on composing in Britain and in Israel today with British and Israeli composers to be hosted by a music college on Sunday 23 November.

Student and professor exchanges. Michael Wolpe would also like to create dialogue and exchange opportunities with and for students and professors from the UK and Israel.

Musical Holiday in Israel. JMI is creating a 3 or 4 week holiday in Israel for music students and practicing musicians - to spend a week of workshops at the Jerusalem Academy of music and dance - a week or two on a kibbutz and end up at the Sfat klezmer Festival.

There is a current Israeli music competition with prizes of £1000 being run by The Spiro Ark see www.spiroark.org for details. (entry by 24 March)

JMI can also offer klezmer classes as an option for students and one- or two-day workshops in traditional eastern European Jewish music for musicians from classical or folk backgrounds. JMI also presents a week-long klezmer summer school for instrumental music, Yiddish language, song and dance in London each August.

Michael Wolpe will be visiting the UK again 9 - 17 May and can introduce the Tzvi Avni works for the November workshops and concerts.

contact JMI for more details of any of the above.