127 The Israel Philharmonic The Israel Philharmonic was founded in 1936 by Bronislaw Huberman and its inaugural concert, on 26 December 1936, was conducted by Arturo Toscanini. The IPO plays in subscription series in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa, in special concerts and in various concert series throughout Israel. The IPO regularly tours the world's cultural centers and prestigious festivals. Israel's creative artists are promoted by many IPO premieres of works by Israeli composers. The IPO has contributed to the absorption of new immigrants and includes in its ranks new immigrant musicians. The orchestra has hosted the world's greatest conductors and soloists, as well as young talents from Israel and abroad. As part of KeyNote, the IPO's music education and outreach program, IPO musicians perform in numerous schools and concerts for school pupils at the Charles Bronfman Auditorium in Tel Aviv. In 1969 Maestro Zubin Mehta was appointed Music Advisor to the IPO and in 1977 he became its Music Director. Maestro Mehta retired in October 2019 and following his retirement, the IPO declared him Music Director Emeritus. Lahav Shani became Music Director in the 2020-21 season. Yoel Levi, Conductor Born in Romania, Levi grew up in Israel. He studied at the Tel Aviv Academy of Music, gaining a Master of Arts degree with distinction. He continued studies at the Jerusalem Academy of Music with Mendi Rodan. He also studied with Franco Ferrara in Siena and Rome, with Kirill Kondrashin in the Netherlands, and at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Levi won first prize at the International Conductors Competition in Besançon, France in 1978. He spent six years with the Cleveland Orchestra as assistant conductor to Lorin Maazel. He was music director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Outside of the United States, Levi was Principal Conductor of the Brussels Philharmonic. He became principal guest conductor of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in 2001, the first Israeli with that title. Levi served as Principal Conductor of the Orchestre National d'Île-de-France and as director and principal conductor of the KBS Symphony Orchestra in South Korea. In 2021 he was appointed chief conductor and artistic advisor of The Haifa Symphony Orchestra. Levi has recorded over 40 records with the best orchestras in the world. In 1997, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts Degree by Oglethorpe University in Atlanta and also gave the commencement address. In 2001, he was nominated to the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Government. photo by Marco Borggrever Supporting Artists
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