The David Goldman Programme for Outstanding Young Musicians is officially opened at the Jerusalem Music Centre

On May 16th 2010, the Jerusalem Music Centre invited guests to a festive evening for the launch of The David Goldman Programme for Outstanding Young Musicians. The programme offers gifted pianists, string- and wind players, aged 14 to 18 from all over Israel, the opportunity to study and play chamber music together at the JMC under the guidance of top Israeli- and visiting musicians, enriching and enhancing the musical training the young people are receiving at other institutions and privately. Twice a year, the participants assemble for a week or two to form the Young Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, performing to full houses at Israeli concert venues; this orchestral experience is also under the auspices of the JMC. Over the 30 years of its existence, many graduates of The Outstanding Young Musicians Programme have made international performing careers; illustrious chamber ensembles such as the Jerusalem Quartet, the Jerusalem Trio and the Ariel Quartet were formed and trained at the JMC.

David Goldman was born in the North of England and lived his life there. Music, sport and the education of young people were among his many interests. He passed away in 1999. His wife, Mrs. Cynthia Goldman, and their sons, Daniel and Andrew, see their support of the Outstanding Young Musicians Programme as a fitting way of perpetuating David’s memory and his values.

Hosting the evening, Edna Ruppin - director of resource development at the JMC and, herself, a graduate of the Outstanding Young Musicians Programme - welcomed members of the Goldman family, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Dorit Beinish, Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor, President of the Jerusalem Foundation Ruth Cheshin, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Jerusalem Music Centre Menachem Ya’ari and other guests gathered in the auditorium. We heard words from Neil Greenbaum of the Jerusalem Foundation: he spoke of David Goldman’s commitment to Israel and to the furthering of young musicians and of the support and contribution the Jerusalem Foundation gives to culture and education. Hed Sella, Director of the Jerusalem Music Centre, read a message sent from Lord Rothschild to the Goldman family and emphasized the Rothschild Foundation’s long-standing support of the JMC. Sella looks forward to many years of joint work and friendship with the Goldman family. Unable to attend the event, Maestro Murray Perahia, President of the JMC, was seen on video talking about the chamber music program as the ideal environment in which young aspiring musicians can develop and learn to collaborate with and know and each other. Also on video, members of the Ariel Quartet – Gershon Gerchikov, Alexandra Kazovsky, Amit Even-Tov and Sergey Taraschansky, who had been tutored at the JMC by Avi Abromovich, spoke of their appreciation of the quality training the centre had given them in preparation of their musical careers; they expressed how happy they were to return to the JMC to teach today’s musical youngsters. Another graduate, violist Amichai Grosz, a founding member of the Jerusalem Quartet, now leading the viola section of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, talked of the important skills he had learned at the JMC, namely those of listening deeply and the skills involved in making meaningful music.

Participants and graduates of the Programme for Outstanding Young Musicians performed a number of chamber music items to the great enjoyment of all gathered. Roni Shavit, Daniel Zinn and William Weill are all in their last year in the programme and will soon join the Israel Defense Forces as outstanding musicians. The trio, coached by Yaron Rosenthal, performed the first movement of L.van Beethoven’s Piano Trio in D opus 70 no. 1 “Ghost” (1808). We then heard three movements of Joseph Haydn’s Quartet in D major opus 64 no.5 “The Lark” (published 1791) performed by Daniel Pinson, Anat Pagis, Yesha’ayahu Ginzburg and Gil Ben-Ari. Their tutor is Professor Avi Abromovich.
The third musical item was the first movement of Johannes Brahms’ String Quartet opus 51 no. 1 in C minor (1865-1873) performed by Barak Schossberger, Amit Damari, Eitan Edri and Shiri Tintpulver. Members of this ensemble study at the Thelma Yellin High School and are coached at the JMC by Sergei Bressler. The involvement, understanding, confidence and fine musicianship of all these young players are proof of the high quality of training and dedication of the teaching faculty at the JMC.

Four graduates of the Programme for Outstanding Young Musicians – Uri Dror (Director of the David Goldman Programme for Outstanding Young Musicians) and Yaron Rosenthal (adviser and tutor in the programme and a member of the acclaimed Jerusalem Trio) joined by Netanel Pollack and Talia Erdal (both graduated last year and now serving in the IDF as outstanding musicians) – performed the Scherzo from G.Faure’s Piano Quartet no.1 in C opus 15 (1876-1879). Their delightfully whimsical reading of the piece, subtly shaped and sophisticated, brought the evening’s musical programme to an end.

Amit Damari spoke on behalf of the young participants, recounting the exhilarating, life-changing experience of her four years of study at the JMC, her meeting with other young players and the privilege of studying with the finest teachers. She thanked the Goldman family for their generosity.

Daniel Goldman spoke on behalf of his family. He talked about his father’s taste in all sorts of music, David’s love of concerts and that fact that both his sons played instruments. David Goldman was inspired by the energy of young people. Daniel thanked the staff of the Jerusalem Music Centre for their dedication to music.