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The Dunie Weizman Conservatory is the oldest music school in Israel, established
in 1924 by Gita Dunie Weizman, the sister of Chaim Weizman, Israel's first president.
Maestro Zubin Mehta serves as honorary president of the Conservatory. The school
is situated in the Hadar quarter of the beautiful port city of Haifa and is a
non - profit organization. |
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Maestro Zubin Mehta
serves as honorary president of the Conservatory. | | The
family connection: The late Ezer Weizman (7th President of Israel) - Gita Dunie
Weizman's nephew - with the Director of the Conservatory - Jane Gutman |
| The school is a melting pot for its 350 children who
come from very diverse backgrounds - approximately 30% of the pupils are immigrants
from the former Soviet Union. The outreach programs cater to a further 15% of
the student body who come from a low socio - economic background. The musical
instruments studied, in addition to voice training, include the piano, organ,
flute, recorders, clarinet, saxophone, violin, viola, cello, harp, and guitar.
The Conservatory also offers participation in a recorder ensemble, chamber ensembles, the junior orchestras of the Haifa Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Bat Shir Children's choirs of Mercaz Youval. These groups perform in national choral festivals, in local concerts at civic ceremonies and Conservatory concerts. The ongoing activities of the Conservatory include concerts, master classes, workshops, competitions and lectures by guest speakers.
Requirements for earning a graduation diploma, are completing
the Conservatory's four-year course on music theory, harmony and aural training
as well as giving a recital. |  Sketch
of the building - 12 Bezalel Street | History
In
the early days, Gita Dunie Weizman and three other teachers taught in rented apartments
in the Hadar HaCarmel area of Haifa. In 1947 the neighborhood council of Hadar
HaCarmel donated a one-floor building in the shape of a grand piano. Two more
floors were added in the late fifties giving the Conservatory several teaching
rooms and a concert hall. For many years the Conservatory was the only venue in
Haifa providing concerts for the public. Today the adult population of Haifa reminisces
about the magical years of their childhood enriched by concerts and musical happenings
given at the Conservatory.
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Gita Dunie Weizman standing
beside a photo of brother Chaim Weizman and sketch of their mother in the background. |
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Teachers
and pupils 1930
(Click to see the whole photo) |
| Many
of the pupils and graduates of the Conservatory have received scholarships from
the American Israel Culture Foundation, several have performed with the Haifa
Youth Orchestra and the Haifa Symphony Orchestra as soloists and have won prizes
in international competitions in Europe and the United States. Over the years,
many graduates of the Conservatory have taken up music professionally and have
made music their national and international careers.
With the recent massive
immigration from the former Soviet Union (FSU), the Conservatory took on several
music teachers who brought with them high musical standards. This infusion of
new blood has attracted many youngsters who are also from the FSU, which has contributed
to a rapid growth in musical activity within the Conservatory. |
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