IPO violinist Sharon Cohen
student to teach me violin, and it became
part of me"
Cohen, with dual United States and
Israeli citizenship, was 7 when her Israeli
parents moved back to their homeland. At
18, she was able to join a musicians' unit in
the army.
After earning a bachelor's degree from
the Jerusalem Academy of Music and
Dance, she studied for her master's degree
at the New England Conservatory of Music
in Boston.
"During my last year of studies, [I had
my] first concert with A Far Cry, a cham-
ber group of string players that I formed
with friends, mostly from the conserva-
tory," she says. "That's how I began my
professional life.
"It's a collaborative, and players vote
on everything with rotating leadership.
There's no conductor. I played with them
for five years before returning to Israel for
the job with the IPO"
University of Michigan while participating
in a program that brought her to concert
stages and schools under sponsorship of an
educational consortium.
Both women were introduced to their
instruments by their parents and have
been surrounded by family members who
are instrumentalists, professional and non-
professional.
Bahcall's father was a violinist, and she
came to admire the instrument. Maczelka's
parents arranged for her to have piano les-
sons as part of her education, and she took
to the keyboard.
"I studied in Budapest at the Bela
Bartok Conservatory before being admit-
ted to the Franz Liszt Academy of Music,"
says Bahcall, whose career has included
serving as concertmaster of the Oshkosh
Symphony Orchestra and performing on
classical radio.
"Before graduation, I already started to
work as a soloist traveling to many coun-
tries"
Maczelka, 60, who also studied at the
Liszt Academy, found that experience
among the happiest of her life. She met
acclaimed musicians, attended concerts
and began performing with quality instru-
mentalists and vocalists.
The musicians are active with Jewish
programs near their homes. The violinist
and her family belong to Congregation
B'nai Israel, where she plays in Kol
Nidre services every year. The pianist is
a board member of the Foundation for
the Synagogue in Szeged, raising money
Cohen, in a relationship with IPO prin-
cipal trombone player Nir Erez, also tours
with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra,
which joins Israeli and Arab instrumen-
talists under the leadership of Daniel
Barenboim.
Cohen can be heard on recordings made
by the two orchestras and chamber group.
Most recently, she has joined the IPO in
a recording of violin concertos featuring
David Garrett
"It's a beautiful time to be in the IPO,"
Cohen says. "It's like the beginning of the
third age of the orchestra with [retire-
ments and] a very large group of new
people this year.
"While we learn from those who used
to play with Leonard Bernstein and the
other great conductors of his time, there is
a freshness with many musicians around
the age of 30.
"The sound is gradually changing as
group dynamics change with every per-
son who joins" ❑
The Israel Philharmonic
Orchestra will perform in a
University Musical Society
concert at 8:45 p.m. Saturday,
March 15, in Hill Auditorium, 825
N. University, in Ann Arbor. $16-
$100. (734) 764-2538; ums.org .
The Detroit Opera House is proud to
present one of the most ORIGINAL
and INVENTIVE dance companies
in Europe...
directed by Philippe Cohen.
EXQUISITE DANCERS!
EXCITING ARTISTIC
COLLABORATIONS!
Featuring:
"Glory", choreographed by
Andonis Foniadakis, featuring 22
dancers performing to magnificent
Handel choral and Instrumental
works
-and-
"Sed Lux", choreographed by Ken
Ossala, whose hypnotic quality and
sculpted shadow play enhance the
delicate nature of bodies wreathed
by the sensitive, ethereal sweetness
of Faure's Requiem.
a
DD A
I
GRAND THEATRE
Friday, March 21, at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m.
FOR TICKETS & PRE-PAID PARKING
CALL 313.237.SING or visit
michiganopera.org
b.V„\ 7
FREE DANCE TALK
one hour prior to
performance.
•
•
Yr WORN.
ttotwom
Endowment
lat./As
Ibis activity Is supported by the MICHIGAN COUNCIL
FOR AIM A.CULIIIIIAL AFFAIRS anat.
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS.
1902450
"For 40 years, Gallery Restaurant has served
THECAE
Daily Special to choose from for lunch &dinner...
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Dinner spec4inifitOplunentary
Noemi Maczelka
through concert performances to renovate
the building.
Bahcall is married, with one daughter.
Maczelka is married, with two daughters.
"My parents survived the Holocaust so
the history of the Holocaust is part of my
family history,' Bahcall says. "The insanity
of anti-Semitism has touched our family
on both sides and killed most family mem-
bers in horrific ways.
"As long as I live, I assume it is my
duty to tell and educate the world about
the talent and contribution of Jewish
people and [use the international lan-
guage of music] to make a strong state-
ment and fight against hatred." ❑
Congregation B'nai Moshe in West
Bloomfield presents Live From
Budapest at 7:30 p.m. Monday,
March 17, at the synagogue. $10
for B'nai Moshe members; $12
in advance and $15 at the door;
includes a meet-and-greet dessert
reception. (248) 788-0600; www.
bnaimoshe.org .
OPEN 7 DAYS:
MON.- SAT. 7 a.m.- 9:30 p.m.
Now Serving
Beer Sr Wine
SUN. 8 a.m.- 9 p.m.
Bloomfield Plaza • 6638 Telegraph Road and Maple • 248-851-0313
www.thegalleryrestaurant2.com
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March 13 • 2014
59