TLV ORCHESTRA (The Arab-Jewish Orchestra)
Nizar Elkather, Conductor

This unique orchestra consists of twenty-four young musicians, instrumentalists and singers, most of which are students at various music academies in Israel. They are volunteers, aged sixteen to thirty-four, coming from all parts of the country, Arabs, Jews and Druse. The orchestra meets every Thursday for a rehearsal in Tel-Aviv, playing a repertoire of newly composed or arranged works taken from Oriental Arabic or Jewish tradition. The works are adapted for the mixed ensemble of Western String Instruments and piano with Eastern instruments such as Oud, Darbuka and Arab Violin.

The orchestra performs in concerts both in Israel, focusing both on Arab and Jewish audiences alike, and abroad, taking part in international music festivals and special exchange projects. Domestic performances include venues such as the Museum of Islamic Art in Jerusalem, The Oud Festival, the Sounds of the Desert Festival in the Negev, the Holiday of Holidays Festival in Haifa, Van Leer Center in Jerusalem, YMCA, The Theatrical Autumn Festival in Tel Aviv and many more. In May 2012, and for celebrating its first decade, the Orchestra held a special concert at Holon Theater, with the participation of the soloist singer Noa (Achinoam Nini). That concert was recorded and broadcasted on Israel Radio. Recent international performances include an International Music festival in Madrid, a special tour to Buenos Ires, a guest concert at the Nürnberger Symphoniker and the Catholic Festival of Münster, Germany. 

The Orchestra has wonderful collaborations with excellent Israeli choirs and from all over the world.