Menachem Avidom

Avidom was born Mendel Mahler-Kalkstein in Stanislaviv, Austria-Hungary on January 6, 1908. This put him in Poland after World War I. He emigrated to Mandatory Palestine in 1925 and, soon after, went to study at the American University of Beirut (from 1926 to 1928). After further studies at the Paris Conservatory (from 1928 to 1931) with Henri Rabaud, he moved to Tel Aviv, where he taught music theory. From 1945 through 1952 he served as general secretary of the Israeli Philharmonic. He was also chair of the Israel Composer's League from 1958 through 1971. ==Awards==

• In 1961, Avidom was awarded the Israel Prize for music, in recognition of his opera ''Alexandra ha'Hashmonait''. ==Works==

;Vocal • In Every Generation, opera, 1955 • ''Alexandra ha'Hashmonait'', opera, 1961 • The Farewell, opera, 1971 • The First Sin, opera, 1980 • ''Me'Arat Yodfat'', opera • 4 other operas • ''Kantatat t'hilim'', cantata, 1955 • 12 Hills, cantata, 1976 ;Orchestral • Symphony No. 3: Yam tichonit, 1952 • 9 other symphonies • Flute Concerto • Concertino for violin and orchestra ;Chamber music • Suite on B-A-C-H, chamber ensemble, 1964 • Brass Quintet, 1969 • Sonata for unaccompanied viola, 1984 ==See also==