Hassadna Wind Orchestra — Award Winner
Exciting achievements by the Conservatory’s Wind Orchestra, conducted by Sagit Mazuz and instructed by Ronit Berman, at international festivals.
Click on the various festivals to learn more!
First Prize at the SCL Festival in Vienna, 2022
Fifty-eight wonderful young musicians represented the city of Jerusalem and the State of Israel in the most beautiful and moving way. Their impressive performance at the renowned Musikverein concert hall in Vienna reached an emotional peak with the rendition of Dr. Oleg Bogod’s composition “Old City Fairytales,” specially written for the orchestra’s appearance at the festival. The piece concluded with the sounding of shofars, giving the performance an unforgettable and chilling finale.
First Prize at the SCL Festival in Vienna, 2016
Hassadna Wind Orchestra, conducted by Sagit Mazuz and instructed by Ronit Berman, won First Prize at the 2016 Summa Cum Laude International Festival in Vienna, Austria.
First Prize at Carnegie Hall, New York, 2014
Hassadna Wind Orchestra, conducted by Sagit Mazuz and instructed by Ronit Berman, won First Prize at the New York Wind Band Festival for wind orchestras, held at Carnegie Hall in New York.
Hassadna String Orchestra — Award Winner
Hassadna String Orchestra, conducted by Michael Geisler, won First Prize at the 2018 Summa Cum Laude International Festival in Vienna, Austria.
The 35 members of the orchestra were deeply moved to perform on the renowned stage of the Musikverein in Vienna. The orchestra impressed the judges exceptionally with a diverse classical repertoire, concluding their performance with a piece composed by Dr. Oleg Bogod especially for the festival. The composition, titled “Yerushalayim D’Lita,” was written in memory of the Jewish community of Vilna, once considered the spiritual center of Jewish life in Eastern Europe, which was completely destroyed during the Holocaust. Oleg, who was born in Lithuania and later immigrated to Israel, made Jerusalem his home and dedicated the piece to this tragic chapter in human history.
Hassadna Students - Winners of National and International Competitions
Hassadna students participate in and win top prizes and scholarships in national and international solo competitions, such as the Tamid Piano Competition in Ashdod, the Pnina Saltzman Competition, the Noshfim Wind Competition in Kfar Saba, the Young Artist Competition, the Paul Ben-Haim Competition, the America-Israel Cultural Foundation scholarships, and various international competitions across a wide range of instruments.
Hassadna students at festivals in Israel and abroad
Hassadna students participate in prestigious programs and festivals such as the Perlman Music Program, Aspen Music Festival, Apple Hill Festival, Tanglewood Music Festival in the USA, Salzburg Opera Festival, Jerusalem Music Center’s Outstanding Artists Programs, the Israeli Young Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Wind Orchestra, and more.
Collaborations with International Festivals:
For nearly two decades, each year an outstanding Hassadna student has been selected to participate in the Apple Hill Chamber Music Festival in New Hampshire, USA. Set in a picturesque forest, participants have the unique opportunity to perform chamber music alongside talented young musicians from around the world. It is an exceptional and inspiring musical experience!
Since 2018, several Hassadna students have been granted the rare opportunity to perform a full opera as part of the Salzburg Opera Camps, held each summer in the enchanting city of Salzburg. Alongside 30 other young musicians from across the globe, they are guided by musicians from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. We are deeply grateful to the America-Austria Foundation for providing Hassadna students with the chance to take part in these incredible summer camps.
Hassadna Graduates
Each year, about 40 new graduates join our alumni family. Some choose to pursue a professional musical track, while for others, music remains a meaningful part of their lives. During their studies at the conservatory, our students embark on an exciting and challenging journey that is a lifelong gift.
Musical Track During Military Service:
Every year, several Hassadna students are accepted into the prestigious IDF Outstanding Musicians track or the IDF Orchestra—tracks that enable them to continue their musical studies throughout their military service.
Continuing Academic Studies at Music Institutions:
Hassadna graduates continue their musical education at prestigious institutions in Israel and abroad, such as the Jerusalem and Tel Aviv Academies of Music, the Juilliard School in New York, the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, the Berklee College of Music in Boston, the Barenboim-Said Academy in Berlin, the Hanover Academy in Germany, and more.