Voice of Music Festival in the Upper Galilee celebrates 41st season

OCTOBER 3, 2026 21:53One of Israel’s oldest and most highly regarded chamber music traditions returns this autumn. The Voice of Music Festival in the Upper Galilee will celebrate its 41st season from October 28 to November 1.Hosted at the newly renovated Pastoral Hotel in Kfar Blum, the five-day event aims to revitalize regional culture and tourism following several challenging years in northern Israel.Under the artistic direction of pianist Dr. Ofra Yitzhaki, the festival bridges historical traditions with contemporary perspectives. This year revives signature interactive programs, including Coffee & Concert, Work in Focus talks, late-night lobby sessions, and daily open rehearsals that grant audiences an intimate look into the musicians’ collaborative process.The 2026 repertoire juxtaposes classical masterworks by Schubert, Ravel, and Schoenberg with modern 20th- and 21st-century compositions.Israeli works to premiere at festivalHighlighting the program are world premieres of new Israeli works by Naama Pearl-Tzadok and Onn Yosef Kadosh, alongside an intimate solo performance by Shlomi Shaban and a collaborative concert featuring Nurit Galron.Pastoral Kfar Blum Hotel (credit: Pastoral)Multidisciplinary productions will also take center stage, including American Rhapsody, which features the Upper Galilee Choir and blends the classical compositions of Bernstein and Barber with jazz and American literature.Significantly, the festival will reflect the recent realities of the Galilee region through poignant tribute performances. The closing concert, My Stream, is dedicated to the memory of the festival’s long-time photographer, Ofer “Pushko” Moshkovitz, who was killed by friendly fire at his home in Kibbutz Misgav Am in March 2026.Additionally, a performance of Silent Playground by Druze composer Haya Mustafa will honor the children killed in the Majdal Shams rocket strike.Events will extend beyond the hotel grounds to include a special concert at Domus Galilaeae and a musical picnic along the banks of the Jordan River, ensuring a community-wide celebration.For more info, visit www.kol-hamusica.org.ilRead The Jerusalem Post’s recent full interview with festival artistic director Dr. Ofra Yitzhaki hereFollow us on Google