Shalom Ronli-Riklis
| Shalom Ronli-Riklis | |
|---|---|
 Major Shalom Ronli-Riklis, 1954 | |
| Background information | |
| Native name | שלום רונלי-ריקליס |
| Born | January 24, 1922 |
| Died | January 27, 1994 (aged 72) |
| Occupation(s) | Conductor |
Shalom Ronli-Riklis (Hebrew: שלום רונלי-ריקליס, 24 January 1922 – 27 January 1994) was an Israeli musician, music teacher, and the conductor of the IDF Orchestra.[1]
Biography
Shalom Ronli-Riklis was born in Tel Aviv in 1922.[2] As a young man, Riklis learned to play the violin and the piano. He was taught the piano under Vincze-Kraus at the Rubin Academy of music at Tel Aviv University. During his studies at the Hebrew Gymnasium "Herzliya," he learned to play the trumpet and later, the French horn: which became his main instrument.
After graduation, he joined the Jewish Brigade. Following a period of service in the infantry, Riklis joined the Orchestra Brigade. Shortly before his release from the Brigade, he was appointed the orchestra conductor. After his release from the Brigade, Riklis graduated from the Academy of Music in piano and conducting, and took courses under Igor Markevitch at the Mozarteum University of Salzburg from 1953–56.[3]
His IDF service
Riklis served in the War of Independence first unit of the military police, and in 1949 was invited to conduct the IDF orchestra that had been founded shortly beforehand. He served as conductor o the IDF Orchestra until 1961, for 16 years.
During that time, Riklis raised the level of the brass band of the IDF significantly. This was the first full brass band in Israel and under his baton it became a significant music ensemble of Israel. Many of its players in brass and percussion were among the first Israelis to join the Israel Philharmonic orchestra. IDF at the time was the only army in the world who had two orchestras: the symphonic orchestra, founded by Riklis, included string and brass and toured all over the country, and a wind ensemble composed solely of wind instruments that was intended to play marches military parades, light music and jazz.
His great love was working with teenagers. During his tenure with the IDF Orchestra, he developed the Youth Corps as its conductor when the youth ensemble won first prize – a silver harp from the Queen Juliana competition for orchestras in Kerkrade, Netherlands attended by over 100 bands (won three times in a row in 1958, 1962 and in 1966)[1]. After three consecutive first prizes, this award remains permanently in Israel and is stored in the IDF archives. This band toured in 1967 under his baton in the United States and Canada with American star Danny Kaye and met with great success.
After his army service
After leaving the army, he worked for many years at the Israel Radio Orchestra in Jerusalem. Riklis headed the faculty, conducting the Academy of Music at Tel Aviv University, founded and conducted the Chamber Orchestra of the Academy and taught many generations of musicians in Israel.
In 1961, he was sent by the Singapore Foreign Ministry to build and consolidate the country's classical music. As part of this work is supported establishing a symphony orchestra and has worked with various youth orchestras.
In 1971, he was appointed deputy by Zubin Mehta, and during his work with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in 1984, he founded the Young Philharmonic Orchestra and was the director until 1988. Dozens of his students played and are playing in orchestras worldwide. Riklis has conducted many orchestras in Israel. He gave advice to various musicals and has judged numerous music competitions.
In 1990 he was the first European, who won the Silver Star of Singapore, the corresponding prize in Israel.
Riklis died in January 1994 in Tel Aviv, after a long illness. He is buried in the Yarkon Cemetery.
References
- ↑ Zionist Organization of America; Jewish Agency for Israel. Economic Dept (1995). Israel Yearbook and Almanac. 49. IBRT Translation/Documentation Limited. pp. 281–.
- ↑ "Ronly-Riklis, Shalom". Jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved 2016-08-07.
- ↑ Fred Skolnik; Michael Berenbaum (2007). Encyclopaedia Judaica: Ra-Sam. Macmillan Reference USA in association with the Keter Pub. House. ISBN 978-0-02-865945-9.