Successful Q&As

By Lindajoy Fenley

Valley City students filling the auditorium twice Monday morning asked the same well-worn questions the Israeli Ethnic Ensemble has heard for the past month: How long have you played? When did you form the band? What is the most difficult instrument to play?

But things got interesting after Yonnie Dror turned the tables on them in the band class that followed lunch. He wanted to know if students took private lessons (they don’t), and where they play (school concerts, pep rallies, parades, and community jazz concerts), and whether they use the same books he uses when he teaches in Israel (yes). When Band Director Tom Kjelland said they average 40 performances a year, even the students were surprised.

Valley City high schoolers wanted to know if the Israelis had been sent to music lessons by their parents.

Noting that his father is a bass player, Avri Borochow said he played with musical instruments from a very young age and moved up to the bass as soon as he was tall enough to hold the instrument.

Sefi Asfuri Hirsh, who plays string instruments, said he followed in his brother’s footsteps and Talya Solan said she enjoyed singing as a child but became a professional singer as an adult. Aviad Ben Yehuda said he was drawn to percussion on his own. “I was a bad student—maybe I’m not a good example,” he chuckled. However, he added, he loved rhythm so much he couldn’t keep his hands still. Aviad offered to give free percussion lessons to the students on his day off and Kjelland agreed to open the school on Veterans’ Day.

Yonnie explained that while his parents appreciate music a lot, they aren’t musically inclined. He confessed he didn’t do too well when they sent him to recorder class as a second grader. But, by the time he was ready to go to high school he was enough of an accomplished flautist to be accepted to a school open only to young musicians. He told students that Israeli musicians must learn both European and Middle Eastern flavors to be successful in their country.

Band and choir students also had questions about playing technique and life in Israel. One student never put his hand down during the entire Q&A session. Although the teacher called on many other students as well, Matt was allowed to ask at least a dozen questions, including, “Where’s the concert? and Where’s Vangstad Auditorium?” After choir teacher Sheila Zinke told him that he’d better go, he quickly asked, “Are they going to answer questions there, too?”

The Israeli Ethnic Ensemble offers their World Fest swan song at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at Valley City State University’s Vangstad Auditorium. For more information, visit the events listing.

Band teacher Tom Kjelland directs student performance before Q&A session.

Sefi Asfuri Hirsh plays the oud at standing-room-only workshop at Valley City High the first day of North Dakota residency.

Music Aide Penny Peterson looks on while Aviad Ben Yehuda gives a personalized lesson.

Choir teacher Sheila Zinke recruited Yonnie Dror to play flute on one of the songs students sang to the ensemble.