User:Dopo24/AFIPO

American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (AFIPO)

American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (AFIPO) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization committed to supporting the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO), Israel’s premiere cultural ambassador. Since the Orchestra’s founding in 1936, the IPO has been an intimate part of Israel’s history creating an important cultural link from its past to the present and into the future. Necessitated by the lack of substantial Israeli government subsidy or endowment, AFIPO’s purpose was crystallized in 1980 through the joint vision of Fredric R. Mann and Zubin Mehta, who created an endowment fund in the United States to ensure the IPO’s future. Americans with ties to Israel have always recognized the importance of the IPO’s role in Israel, and throughout the world, and have played a vital role in helping to sustain the Orchestra. The AFIPO was incorporated in Washington, DC in 1972.

AFIPO Mission
AFIPO seeks to broaden its commitment to the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra while at the same time enlarging the Orchestra’s endowment. Funds raised by AFIPO help the Orchestra initiate and strengthen exciting programs, as well as to maintain its high standard of musical excellence without placing a financial burden on the IPO’s budget or compromising its long-term stability. Contributions help to underwrite the IPO’s international tours, expand and enhance the Orchestra’s KeyNote Education and Outreach Program for Israeli youth, purchase valuable instruments to enrich the sound of the Orchestra and preserve the Orchestra’s history through archival projects.

Giving
AFIPO Giving Opportunities range from general operating support to special events and projects in Israel.

AFIPO Herman S. Sandler Endowment Fund
Since 1981, generous contributions from thousands in the United States and Canada have generated over $15 million in AFIPO’s Herman S. Sandler Endowment Fund, helping to secure the Orchestra’s financial future, while providing general operating support. Endowment opportunities include, but are not limited to, endowing a “Seat Forever” in the Orchestra’s Mann Auditorium in Israel or endowing an IPO “Concert for Life.”

AFIPO Zubin Mehta Instrument Fund
The inclusion of immigrants into its ranks of the Orchestra has been part of the IPO's mission since its inception. Unfortunately, many of these immigrants have been unable to bring their instruments with them to Israel and they cannot afford to purchase new ones. This need for good instruments is particularly prevalent in the violin section of the Orchestra. It is vitally important that appropriate violins are purchased for these musicians' use in order to maintain the quality of the IPO's sound. In 1998, the American Friends raised $2 million for the Zubin Mehta Instrument Fund. These funds have been used to acquire instruments that are now on loan to IPO musicians. Additional instruments are still needed.

KeyNote Education and Outreach Program of the IPO
Founded in 2000, KeyNote has a wide variety of music education programs filling the void in the music instruction of the children of Israel. IPO musicians and trained teachers bring classical music into Jewish, Arab-Israeli, and religious and secular schools, as well as institutions for homeless and disadvantaged children. Teaching kindergarten through high school, and even into the Army, the children and young adults experience music in their classrooms and are given the opportunity to attend concerts at the Fredric R. Mann Auditorium and other special events. Over 29,000 children participate in the KeyNote program each year. AFIPO proudly provides underwriting support for this vital program where classical music is used as a vehicle for teaching compassion, nurturing our youth, encouraging the classical music audiences of the future and enriching the cultural life of Israel.

Founded
1936 by violinist Bronislaw Huberman. Originally was named the Palestine Orchestra

Music Director for Life (1977-present)
Zubin Mehta • Laureate Conductor (1947-1990): Leonard Bernstein Honorary Guest Conductor: Kurt Masur • Principal Guest Conductor: Yoel Levi

Orchestra
110 musicians; Co-operatively run Orchestra steered by an elected management, the Va’ad, comprised of three musicians, and committees. Administrative team of 15 professional staff members.

Concert Venues
Fredric R. Mann Auditorium, Tel Aviv (Home of the IPO) • International Convention Center, Jerusalem • Haifa Auditorium, Haifa

Concert Series
26,000 subscribers •Approximately 100 orchestral concerts offered per season Series types: Gala, Bravo, Saturday Classic, Classic Eight, Six at 7:00, Friday at 2:00, Philoclassica, Light Classical, Philolight

Special Concert Series
Intermezzo Tel Aviv - concerts with coffee, cake and conversation

IPO in Jeans (Concerts in Denim)
This series is designed to attract young professional adults between the ages of 21-45 who would otherwise not be exposed to the IPO’s musical and cultural activities. The concerts start at 10PM, followed by dancing and music with a DJ and refreshments.

Family Concerts
A five concert series that exposes children, young teens and their families to fascinating and diverse forms of classical music at affordable prices.

Chamber Music Series
Concerts performed at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art

International Touring

 * The IPO tours approximately three months of each season, sometimes to countries that have little or no Israeli representation and others that have celebrated music festivals.
 * November 2010, Zubin Mehta and the IPO Japan tou.
 * October 2009, the IPO performed in Madrid and Barcelona, Spain.
 * August 2009, Zubin Mehta and the IPO will toured South America; 18 concerts in seven cities.
 * October 2008, Zubin Mehta and the IPO traveled to India with friends Daniel Barenboim, Placido Domingo, Barbara Fritolli and Pinchas Zukerman with concerts paying tribute to Mehli Mehta.
 * In July 2008, the IPO concluded it 72nd season with a tour to Sydney, Australia and Bangkok Thailand.
 * May 2008, Yoel Levi and the Orchestra celebrated Israel’s 60th anniversary with a concert in Mexico.
 * April 2008, the IPO performed in Rome and Parma, Italy and Warsaw, Poland, where the live, televised concert at the National Opera House was the central event of the 65th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
 * December 2007- January 2008, Zubin Mehta and the Orchestra traveled to China for a four concert tour with a final live broadcast performance on New Year’s from Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.

United States Tours

 * February/March 2011, Celebrating the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra 75th Anniversary and Zubin Mehta’s 50th anniversary conducting, Maestro Mehta and the IPO will conduct a seven-city, eight concert tour. Cities include Naples and West Palm Beach, Fl, New York City, Newark, NJ, Seattle, WA, San Francisco and Los Angeles, CA.
 * December 2009, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra performed in New York, Palm Beach and Miami conducted by Pinchas Zukerman with guest cellist, Amanda Forsyth.
 * May 2009, The IPO Woodwind Octet debuted in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles.
 * November 2008, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra toured seven cities with an eight concert tour conducted by Gustavo Dudamel. In New York City, violinists Pinchas Zukerman and Nitzan Bartana performed with the Orchestra at the AFIPO Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall on November 17th.
 * February 2008, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Tribute to Leonard Bernstein toured five US cities. Jamie Bernstein, the composer’s daughter, shared personal anecdotes and provided background information as 50 members of the IPO performed numerous Bernstein Broadway classics, conducted by Michael Barrett.