The musical ensemble Los Ladinos, dedicated to reviving Sephardic music, took part in the 3rd edition of the Concert for Peace, as reported in November 2019. The group is made up of five young musicians trained at conservatories and arts schools in Israel.
A project to revive Sephardic music
Los Ladinos is a musical group founded by Lidor Ram Mesika, born with the ideal of making Sephardic music (Ladino music) known and reviving it. The musical arrangements are written by Lidor Ram Mesika and Itay Keinan.
Ladino, or Judeo-Spanish, is the traditional language of Sephardic Jews, descendants of the Jewish communities expelled from the Iberian Peninsula at the end of the 15th century. Its musical repertoire, passed down for centuries in Sephardic communities, shares roots with Hispanic culture.
Members of Los Ladinos
Lidor Ram Mesika, 19
Baritone, composer and arranger. He graduated in voice from the Netanya conservatory with Vita Gurevich and Nitzan Choir, and studies piano with Marina Mossenkis. He was awarded an additional excellence scholarship by the America-Israel Cultural Foundation. For two years he took part in the Young Musical Promise program of the Jerusalem Music Center, at Mishkenot Sha’ananim.
Maya Zutta, 19
Maya is a student of Doret Florentin. After completing her music studies with honors at the “Blich” high school, she was accepted into the “Outstanding Musician” program of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). She is a recipient of the scholarship from the Israel Cultural Foundation and Zefunot for Israel America Culture.
She won first prize in the national competition in the wind instruments category and has performed as a soloist in numerous performances.
Rachel Morioussef, 18
Cellist and composer. She graduated from the Netanya conservatory, in the class of Igor Goltz, and from the Thelma Yellin High School of Arts.
Itay Keinan, 19
Classical guitarist, composer and arranger. A student of Igor Kaplun, he graduated from the Giva’taim conservatory and from the Thelma Yellin school of arts. He has taken part in several competitions in Israel and abroad, and has won several of them. His compositions have been performed by the Thelma Yellin Symphony Orchestra and other ensembles. At the time this news item was published, he was a soldier in the IDF’s Liaison Unit.
Yair Ben Shalom, 18
Drummer and percussionist. He graduated from the Thelma Yellin High School of Arts and is a student at the Rimon Jazz Institut. He studied with Shay Zelman, Roni Iwryn, Nir Nakav and Rony Holan. He is a member of jazz, Latin, rock and electronic ensembles, with which he performs in Israel and around the world.
The Chamber and the Concert for Peace
The Concert for Peace is part of the cultural activities of the Israel Ibero-America Chamber of Commerce (CILIB). Learn more about the Concert for Peace, about the Chamber and about Israel in its country profile.
