Jerusalem Orchestra East & West youth division to perform at UN

The Jerusalem Orchestra East & West's youth division, TJO Youth-Galilee, is in New York for a series of performances, including an appearance at the UN General Assembly opening. The ensemble, conducted by Maestro Tom Cohen, includes Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Druze musicians aged 14 to 23. They also jammed with Israeli singer-songwriter David Broza.

TJO Youth-Galilee, a delegation from the Jerusalem Orchestra East & West, is in New York this week for a series of performances, including an appearance Tuesday evening at an event marking the opening of the annual United Nations General Assembly session. The ensemble, conducted by Maestro Tom Cohen, is expected to be the only musical act performing at the event. Before taking the UN stage, the young musicians fulfilled another ambition: playing with veteran Israeli singer-songwriter David Broza. The orchestra members, ages 14 to 23, include Jewish, Muslim, Christian, and Druze musicians from communities throughout the Galilee. They joined Broza in a New York rehearsal room for an informal jam session. At Tuesday evening's performance, the group is scheduled to present a repertoire intended to bridge cultures, including Zohar Argov's "Yam Shel Dmaot" ("A Sea of Tears"), Abdel Wahab's "Khayy Khay," and a closing performance of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." Tom Cohen described the meeting with Broza as particularly meaningful for both the young musicians and for him personally.