Mendi Rodan

Mendi Rodan (Hebrew: מנדי רודן) (born 1929; died May 9, 2009) was a Romanian-born Israeli conductor, composer and violinist.

Mendi Rodan (Rosenblum) was born in Iaşi, Romania, one of three children of Solomon and Miriam Rosenblum. Mendi began playing the violin at the age of five. His parents made sure that all the children got extra tuition in languages, mathematics, physical education and music. In 1941 Mendi's father and many of his relatives were murdered in pogroms carried out against the Jews of Iaşi. Mendi, his mother and his brothers survived the war but suffered from extreme financial hardship.

After the liberation of Romania from fascist rule, Rodan began studying engineering, but eventually he abandoned these studies. One of his musical mentors and teachers was Mirce Bersan, as well as the Armenian violinist Garabet Avakian. He studied conducting with the noted Romanian conductor Constantin Silvestri at the Romanian National Academy of Music in Bucharest. In the field of chamber music, Rodan was the pupil of the Jewish composer Michai Andryko. In 1957, Rodan pursued advanced studies in conducting and chamber music at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary.

In 1953 Rodan married Judith, with whom he had two children. Around this time, he changed his surname to Rodan.

At the age of 16, Rodan became first violinist of the National Symphony of Romania. At the age of 24, he became its conductor. To augment his salary, he gave private lessons in mathematics. In 1958, he applied for a permit to immigrate to Israel. As a result of the request he was fired from all his positions with the orchestra in Bucharest and forced to move to Bacău until his departure.

In 1960, Rodan made aliyah to Israel with his family, settling in Jerusalem. In 1961-1963 he was the conductor of the Chamber Orchestra of Ramat Gan. From 1963 to 1972, Rodan was the principal conductor and musical director of the Israel Radio Orchestra in Jerusalem. From 1964, he was a guest conductor with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra at the Israel Festival and at the Artur Rubinstein Competition. From 1972-1976 he was a regular guest conductor with the Oslo Philharmonic in Norway. From 1977-1991, he served as musical director of the Israel Sinfonietta in Beersheba. From 1980-1983, he was a music consultant at the Jerusalem Music Centre in Mishkenot Sha’ananim. From 1985-1989, he was the music director and conductor of the National Orchestra of Belgium. During that same period, he was the artistic director of the Orchestra of the Education Corps of the Israeli Defense Forces. From 1993-1997, he was a conducting fellow with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. From 1993-2005, he was the music director and principal conductor of the Rishon Lezion Symphony Orchestra.

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