Young People at the Center Concert Series

Encounters: France–Israel

Friday | 9 October 2026 | 12:00 | Jerusalem Music Centre

Claude Debussy: String Quartet in G minor, Op. 10 (Movements 1, 2)
Gilead Hochman: Abducted Memories for String Trio
Ron Yedidia: Farewell, Nathaniel Lavson and the Piano
Claude Debussy: Première rhapsodie for Clarinet and Piano
Niccolò Paganini: Terzetto in D major, Op. 66
Paul Ben-Haim: Serenade for Flute and String Trio, Op. 39
Maurice Ravel: Introduction and Allegro

Musicians

Akinori Shibata, Eitan Shemesh, Liza Brachman, Noa Moyal: Violin
Baptiste Donadio, Maya Yamnor: Viola
Louis-Guillaume Ferrer, Maya Daban: Cello
Laure Thomas: Bassoon
Ella Roman: Clarinet
Alma Sonnenstein, Clelia Koten: Flute
Kikuko Dashi: Harp
Yoav Sand: Piano

Mentor-Musicians

Régis Pasquier: Violin
Yoni Gartener: Viola
Michal Korman: Cello
Pierre Génisson: Clarinet
Liat Cohen: Guitar

[Ticket booking]

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In November 2025, following calls in France by the media outlet Mediapart and the CGT workers’ union to prevent the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and its conductor from performing in Paris, Marc Meidanberg and Daniel Verdier initiated a public letter opposing the boycott. The letter gathered more than 22,000 signatures within 48 hours. The concert ultimately took place, and despite three violent disruptions involving smoke grenades, Sir András Schiff, the orchestra, and its conductor Lahav Shani performed with exceptional skill and artistry.

In the spirit of defending artistic freedom and promoting cultural dialogue, Marc Meidanberg initiated the Encounters: France–Israel project.

One year later, the project brings together seven wonderful, open-minded young French musicians with their Israeli counterparts to perform works by Israeli and French composers. Against the backdrop of continued international attention to the Middle East, these young artists get to know one another, collaborate, and experience a unique artistic and human encounter while becoming acquainted with Israel—a country often at the center of controversy and public discourse in Europe.

The participants work closely with renowned mentors—Pierre Génisson, Régis Pasquier, Michal Korman, and Yoni Gartener—whose artistic guidance is an integral part of the project. The project also benefits from the generous support and warm hospitality of artistic directors Raz Binyamini, Uri Dror, and Gilead Hochman, whose commitment made these encounters possible.

Together, the young musicians prepare for and perform in three concerts in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Kfar Blum, made possible through the support of dedicated partners and donors.

At its core, the Encounters: France–Israel project reaffirms the place of music as a space for dialogue and shared artistic excellence for listening audiences.