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As the state of Israel marks its 60th anniversary in 2008, the University of Virginia Jewish Studies Program will host a conference exploring the music of Israel.

Along with scholarly discussion of Israeli music as a window into national identity, politics, religion and culture, the conference will also feature April 13 performances of Israeli popular, folk and religious music by Etti Ankri and Moussa Berlin, as well as cellist Uri Vardi and the Charlottesville and University Symphony Orchestra performing works by Osvaldo Golijov, Ernest Bloch and Hector Berlioz.

“This is the first conference ever held outside of Israel to look at Israeli identity through music,” said Joel Rubin, U.Va.’s director of music performance and a conference organizer. “We are bringing together scholars from around the world and two superstars of Israeli music.” Read more…