Watch Over the World

Excellence and Leadership in Music Sounds of Harmony

The visit of the Michigan Steering Committee in May concluded with the "Watch Over the World" concert with guest performer David D'Or put together by students and teachers of the "Excellence in Leadership and Music" and the "Notes of Harmony" programs. During the year the students participated in diverse workshops, master classes, concerts and musical encounters with first class musicians from Israel and from abroad. The concert was such a great success that it was decided to put on a similar concert as one of the events that launched the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit 2004 Annual Campaign. For the concert in Detroit, six gifted young musicians - Gal Ben David, Fadi Hadad, Michael Diskin, Atara Frish, Yohanan Lieberman and Nitay Herskowitz - from the "Excellence in Music" program were selected.

With David D'Or, the group performed at Temple Shir Shalom and the concert was acclaimed as a tremendous success. During their sojourn in Detroit, they visited Jewish and public schools, met and participated in musical encounters with their Detroit peers and inaugurated an exhibition of Chanukiyot at the Detroit Jewish Community Center.

The "Excellence in Leadership and Music" program, an initiative of Partnership 2000 volunteers, is one component of a wider Partnership 2000 Central Galilee-Michigan sponsored educational program called "Excellence and Leadership in Music, Technology and Sports". The program offers exceptionally gifted young musicians in the Central Galilee opportunities to further develop and enhance their personal capabilities while contributing to the social and cultural life in schools and communities. The science and technology program is designed for high school students who excel in these subjects, providing high level courses in computers, software designing, website construction, business initiative, creative thinking and website administration. A new and innovative program on "Space Sciences, which was developed with the Technion, will be offered next year. In sports, the program offers diverse enrichment programs in athletics, basketball and individual sports such as fencing and wrestling. "Songs of Harmony & Partnership"

Nisan5764 - March 2004