The installation of music can change the audience’s perception
(Michael Tilson Thomas, Music Director, SF Symphony)

The Music Factory was borne of Zimbalista’s reverence to Arab and Jewish children with great musical talents from the more geographically isolated towns and cities of Israel. Zimbalista is dedicated to supporting their education and ensuring the development of future opportunities. This is a long-standing empowerment project, in which Zimbalista has been inviting outstanding pupils to perform alongside him on national symphonic stages.

Zimbalista’s Music Factory is supported by the Recanati Family Foundation and Israel’s Ministry of Culture. The summer festivals that have taken place so far, are part of a continuous venture. Between 2016-2019, Mr.Steph Wertheimer had welcomed Zimbalista’s Music Factory to the grounds of the Open Museums at the Western Galilee and the Negev. This is with dear thanks to the then CEO and Curator, Ruthi Ofek.
Since 2021, our factory performs in the courtyard of The Church of Saint John the Baptist in Ein Karem, by Courtesy of “Custodia Terrae Sanctae”.

Our History
The association was founded by conductor and percussionist Chen Zimbalista, driven by a deep desire and commitment to advance music students from all cultural backgrounds. The need arose from Zimbalista’s understanding that the way to create equal opportunities for musical youth from all sectors of society is to expose them to the academic world and integrate them into concerts with professional musicians. This activity creates unique connections and grants young musicians equal opportunities, allowing them to integrate into the world of music and develop professional and international careers.

Concerts and Series
The artistic program in the last two years has included the Sounds of Autumn Festival in Abu Ghosh, the Ein Karem Music Festival, a performance for the Margalit Start-Up at the central bus station in Kiryat Shmona, a concert at the Cultural Hall in Ma’alot-Tarshiha, a concert at the Emek Yizrael College, the Festival of Festivals concert, a series of performances at the Shblul club in Tel Aviv, a series of performances at the Academic Campus in Jaffa-Tel Aviv, a concert at the YMCA hall in Jerusalem, a concert at the Khan Theater in Jerusalem, a gala concert for fundraising for meals for needy children in Jerusalem, a series of performances at the Agam Museum in Rishon Lezion, and currently in a project of the Factory for Displaced Residents of the Western Negev – Kibbutz Amir, Shtula, Kלע אלון, hotels and community centers in Eilat.

Friends, Colleagues, and Supporters
The association has friends and supporters from various and diverse fields. The Recanati family is a long-standing supporter of the association, whose friends include various entities in Israel and abroad, entities from within the Franciscan Church in Israel, foreign and local conductors and musicians, public figures, and more, alongside Zimbalista. Among the association’s friends and colleagues are: Chairman David Boaz, who has served in senior public positions in the economy, Yoni Peres, Dov Ben David, Uri Zvi Shahak, Ruthi Ofek, and Yoaav Igara.

Association Instructors
Igor Frog, Leading musician in the Rishon Lezion Symphony Orchestra.
Guy Figer, Head of the String Department at the Streicher Conservatory in Tel Aviv.
Chen Zimbalista, Marimba player, conductor, and artistic director at the Music Factory.
Tanya Belzer, Artistic Director at the Magnificat Music Center in Jerusalem.
Matan Nosimowicz, Senior musician in the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
Nur Darwish, The Israeli Opera.
Professor Taysir Elias, Head of the Musicology Department at the University of Haifa.