Reflections
Tuesday, August 21, 2012

The TAU Symphony Orchestra remembers the "opportunity of a lifetime" at legendary Carnegie Hall

The culmination of endless hours of preparation, the students of Tel Aviv University's Buchmann-Mehta School of Music's Symphony Orchestra say that stepping out onto the Carnegie Hall Stage was the experience of a lifetime — and a dramatic springboard for their professional careers.

"To enter the hall as a musician was a feeling I can't describe," says Ben Petrover Shiboleth, a Bachelors student who plays the cello and is looking forward to beginning a Masters program in the fall. "To know that you are in the same warm-up rooms and on the same stage as all the big stars who have come before you is something special. It's great preparation for the real world."

The May 2012 concert, conducted by Head of the School Prof. Ze'ev Dorman and featuring works by Mozart and Vivaldi, was the renowned orchestra's debut at Carnegie Hall, and only its second performance in New York City. In 2008, TAU's symphony orchestra was invited to play a special Holocaust Remembrance Day program at the United Nations, led by maestro Zubin Mehta.

Fulfilling a dream

Having hosted most of the legendary classical music artists in the world, Carnegie Hall stands as a professional benchmark in the world of the performing arts. "Since I was a child, I have seen videos of important people performing at Carnegie, and for me it was a dream come true to perform there, especially because I played as a concert master," says violinist Abner Mancini Landim, who hopes to have more opportunities to play at the prestigious venue throughout his career.

The orchestra's scheduled tours and concerts abroad are not only a source of inspiration for the students — who have the chance to walk in the footsteps of their musical heroes — but they also prepare them for the challenges they face in the road ahead. Trumpet player Yael Gat, who "enjoyed every moment" of her time on stage, says she felt like a "player in a large, professional orchestra." That underscored the wisdom of the Music School's approach: preparing for "the major leagues" requires intense focus and discipline.

"This school has given me drive by giving me the opportunity to perform in concerts and productions," says soprano soloist Einat Aronstein. "This experience taught me how to deal with excitement and pressure, and at the end of the day, focus on my singing. It wasn't until after the concert was over that I let myself be overwhelmed by what I had just done — performed at Carnegie Hall!"

A warm AFTAU welcome

Invited to participate in the Carnegie Hall performance after an impressive showing at a concert on TAU campus, Aronstein says that the experience went beyond the concert hall. Whether the students were first-time visitors or frequent travellers to New York, TAU's American Friends went out of their way to make the trip a magical one.

"When we arrived, AFTAU held a BBQ to offer us a warm welcome. They thought of everything to make our stay meaningful — taking us to significant sites, allowing us to explore New York City, and inviting supporters to meet us at special dinners. You can see that the Americans who fund TAU and our program have a love for music and young musicians, and are dedicated to creating new opportunities for us."

For more American Friends of Tel Aviv University news, click here.

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