Department of Music

The dynamic Jerusalem-based Atar Trio will bring their Mt. Nebo program of American and Israeli music to UVA on Monday, March 23rd at 8:00 p.m. in Old Cabell Auditorium.  This free concert is an Arts Enhancement Event, supported by the Office of the Provost & the Vice Provost for the Arts, and co-Sponsored by the McIntire Department of Music and UVA's Jewish Studies Program. This concert continues the Trio's success in expanding musical experiences in the concert hall, combining the richness of musical tradition with the innovations of contemporary approaches. It is part of a tour that will bring them from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, New York, Charlottesville, and Chicago, among other locales.

In their "Mt Nebo" program, the Atar Trio features music that draws on multiple folk elements: the Biblical past, as well as multiple ethnic and vernacular traditions.

The program opens with Judith Shatin's View from Mt. Nebo, inspired by the story of Moses looking to the Promised Land he would never reach. This is a powerful narrative of both cultural and creative process and transformation, and draws on the composer’s own experiences. The program continues with Israeli composer Benjamin Yusupov’s Trio, with elements from Eastern musical traditions from ethnic communities: Arabic, Armenian and African and Jewish.

Next, Paul Schoenfield’s Café Music, by now a staple of the trio repertoire, combines elements of both vernacular and classical cultures, with a delightful interaction between the two. The program concludes with Ofer Shelly, pianist and founding member of the Atar Trio, singing some of his own arrangements of traditional Israeli folksongs for baritone and piano trio.

The entire program mixes modern conceptions of sound with traditional elements. Both the Shatin and Yusupov trios, though permeated with new sonorities and soundscapes, are organized in three contrasting movements, forging a link between the past and present. The concert as a whole creates a musical bridges across cultures, from east to west, showcasing composers finding musical expression in the environment of the ‘global village.’

This program, with its variety of styles and virtuosic elements draws on the strengths of the Atar Trio, known both for its compelling performances of traditional music and their enthusiasm for interpreting the musical world around them. One of Israel’s leading ensembles, they are frequent guests at festivals in Europe and their performances have been widely recorded and broadcast. 

ATAR TRIO MEMBERS:

Ofer Shelley, pianist, was born in Israel, and graduated from the Rubin Music Academy in Jerusalem. He continued his postgraduate studies in piano and musicology at the Hebrew University. He has performed as soloist and with ensembles including the Kaprisma Ensemble and in the International Galil Chamber Music Festival. In 1996 he founded the Atar Piano Trio and it is now one of the most active chamber music groups in the country. As music director, Ofer creates and produces musical projects which are performed often both in Israel and Europe. These programs include original arrangement,  bringing folk music into a chamber setting, as well as contemporary and traditional classical music. Ofer is also an educator, teaching piano, chamber music and theory and giving concert workshops for schools including the Sadna conservatory and the Magnificat Institute.  

Tanya Beltser, violinist, was born in Ukraine and immigrated to Israel in 1994. She completed her postgraduate studies under the guidance of Ora Shiran at the Rubin Academy in Jerusalem. She was a member of the Young Philharmonic Orchestra and has performed with numerous other chamber ensembles.  Tanya's repertoire spans traditional classic, romantic, folklore, modern and Jewish music. Since 1997 she has been a member of the Atar Piano Trio and has performed in many concerts and festivals in Israel and Europe, recording three CD's of Israeli and Jewish music. As a soloist, Tanya has played recitals in Israel and abroad. Tanya is active as a violin teacher at the Hasadna conservatory and the Magnificat School in Jerusalem, in addition to her full performance schedule.

Marina Katz, cellist, originally from Latvia, immigrated to Israel in 1994, continuing her studies at the Rubin Academy in Tel‐Aviv. After graduating with  honors, she continued for her second degree at the Rubin Academy in Jerusalem. Marina has won numerous prizes, including those in The First International Tchaikovsky Competition For Young Musicians (Moscow, 1992), the Siegel Foundation Competition for Israeli String Players (Jerusalem) and the Diploma in the Paul Ben-Haim Israeli Music Competition. From 1995‐ 2003, she won the scholarships from the America Israel Cultural Foundation. She was also invited to lead the cello section in the Divan Orchestra under the baton of Daniel Barenboim. As a soloist, Marina has performed with numerous orchestras including the Latvian Chamber Orchestra, the Latvian Philharmonic and TV and Radio Orchestra in Moscow. Currently she is principal cellist in the Israel Kamerata Chamber Orchestra, as well as a member of the Atar Trio.

Old Cabell Hall is located on the south end of UVA's historic Lawn, directly opposite the Rotunda. Free parking is available in the U.Va Central Grounds Parking Garage, located on Emmet  Street.  Handicapped parking is available in the C1 parking lot or in designated spaces on McCormick Avenue. Old Cabell Hall is wheelchair accessible.

An Arts Enhancement Event supported by the Office of the Provost & the Vice Provost for the Arts.

Co-Sponsored by the Jewish Studies Program at the University of Virginia.