Shulamit Conservatory

The Ron Shulamit Conservatory is a music conservatory in Israel.

Music education developed in Israel largely due to the pioneering efforts of Shulamit Rupin, who established the first conservatory in Jaffa in 1910. Among the teachers were noted musicians such as Moshe Hupenko, a famous violinist from Geneva, invited from Europe for the express purpose of teaching at Shulamit. After Mrs. Ruppin’s passing, Mr. Hupenko took over as director, in which capacity he served for 40 years.

The conservatory moved to Tel Aviv and became a focal point for residents there. At the time, 1,800 people lived in Tel Aviv and 37% of the city’s children studied at the conservatory. Among Shulamit Conservatory's most famous students are Itzhak Perlman, Pnina Salzman, Ivry Gitlis, Shimon Mishori, Yifrah Ne'eman, Yehoshua Epstein, Amichai Gross, Rami Bar-Niv, Varda Nishri and even former Prime Minister Moshe Sharett (Shertok). Famous musicians who taught at Shulamit include Paul Ben-Haim, Yoel Engel, Yosef Acharon, Yariv Ezrachi, and Telma Yelin. In 1923 the Shulamit Conservatory Orchestra accompanied Mordechai's Golinkin's production of La Traviata, the first opera performed in pre-state Israel.

Music schools sprouted all over the country to address the great demand produced by refugees who arrived during World War II. One of the more notable ones was Ron Conservatory, established and directed by the violinist Yariv Ezrachi, himself a graduate of the Shulamit Conservatory. Famous musicians who studied at Ron include Daniel Benyamini and Shlomo Mintz. In 1968 Ezrachi added the name “Shulamit” to the title of his school, in order to perpetuate Shulamit's illustrious history. Ezrahi's daughter Ofra Broshi later opened a branch in Jerusalem, and today the Ron Shulamit Conservatory operates a coed branch in Bet Hakerem, and one for orthodox girls in Har Nof.

The Conservatory’s mission is to make music and all its benefits, available to everyone, regardless of religious/ethnic background, age, gender, socio-economic status, physical, mental or emotional disabilities. Working towards these aims, Ron Shulamit offers music classes of the highest caliber, by renowned musicians, for a wide variety of instruments, maintains several ensembles (wind, strings and baroque), and 3 orchestras. Their “Jewish Music Renaissance Project" researches, collects, records and performs traditional music pieces from Jewish communities around the globe. They provide music therapy to children with disabilities and emotional problems. Free open houses are held on a regular basis in addition to performances in nursing homes, community centers, fundraisers for charitable organizations and explained concerts in schools, as part of the goal of enriching the cultural life of Jerusalem residents. They offer early childhood music education, and a BA program in music education, for girls (the only program of its kind in the world) providing them with a higher education, and a career. The Conservatory employs many immigrant musicians, thereby aiding in their absorption process. Over 400 students train at the Conservatory each year, some going on to win awards for achievement in their field in national competitions.

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