JISDF 2025 Closing Concert – Awakening into a Dream – World Premiere

Avishai Cohen

Israel

Avishai Cohen is globally recognized as a musician with an individual sound and a questing spirit, an ever-creative player-composer open to multiple strains of jazz and active as a leader, co-leader, and sideman. Aside from the acclaimed work with his quartet over the last several years, and previously his trio work under the moniker Triveni, the trumpeter has also recorded and toured the world as part of the Mark Turner Quartet, the SFJAZZ Collective, Jazz100, Zakir Hussain, and the 3 Cohens – with his sister, clarinetist-saxophonist Anat, and brother, saxophonist Yuval. In 2024, Cohen released his newest album, Ashes to Gold, a deeply introspective and richly textured exploration of life’s transitions and renewal, was written after the tragic events of Oct. 7th, 2023. The title comes from the Japanese concept of Kintsugi (transformation through repair) where the process of repair doesn't aim to restore the item to its original state but transform it into a new creation with its own unique identity. The album showcases Cohen’s ability to blend lyrical beauty with technical brilliance, further solidifying his reputation as a boundary-pushing innovator in contemporary jazz. Named as the Artistic Director of the International Jerusalem Festival, Cohen has also been voted a Rising Star on three consecutive occasions in the DownBeat Critics Poll.

Arkadi Duchin

Israel

Arkadi Duchin is one of the most iconic and influential voices in Israeli music. A rare artist of sensitivity, depth, and soul, he has spent decades creating a vast body of work—hundreds of songs that have become the soundtrack of an entire generation. With a musical signature that is instantly recognizable- a fusion of pop, rock, touches of jazz, and liturgical tones- Duchin knows how to reach the aching places and offer healing through words and sound. From the anthems he composed for the legendary band The Friends of Natasha to deeply personal ballads written for himself and others, his clear, resonant voice has come to symbolize raw, moving authenticity. Never one to follow convention, Duchin has continuously broken musical boundaries—bridging rock and Mizrahi music, intimate performances and ambitious concept albums, introspective writing and powerful production for other artists. His songs are pillars of Israeli cultural heritage. Beyond his artistic work, Duchin is known for his open heart and social activism, remaining true to his path: creating from the heart—and reaching the hearts of many.

Miriam Engel

Israel

Miriam Engel is an Israeli and international choreographer, dancer, actress, and entrepreneur who lives and works in Jerusalem. She has been creating and performing for the past 20 years in Israel, Europe, the USA, Africa, and the Far East, initiating international projects and collaborations around the world. Engel’s works are characterized by a unique interpretation and design, rich virtuoso performance, and by the adaptation of the Israeli experience in its entire diversity into interactive, universal, and place-dependent work. As a Jerusalemite, she draws artistic and intellectual inspiration from the complexity and multicultural nature of the city where she also acts as a cultural entrepreneur: in addition to founding and managing the Jerusalem International Solo Dance Festival, she founded the Angela Dance Company in Jerusalem – an artistic body that serves as a home for contemporary activity that stages original dance works alongside international projects. She also developed the concept project LoveINg Your City, which documents true love stories from cities around the world through original dance and performance works in public, staged, and digital spaces. Engel is a member of the board of directors of IUPA, a member of the Choreographers Association, and served as artistic director at Mazia. Alongside her original productions and many performances, she is invited to create, perform, and teach in various institutions around the world.