Elad Kabilio
Israeli cellist Elad Kabilio is an active soloist, chamber musician, and a teaching artist. Elad is devoted to bringing music to new audiences. He has taught in many schools both in Israel and New York City. AICF caught up with Elad to learn more about his latest project and how much music means to him.
1) What or who inspired you to want to become an artist?
I was born to a family of musicians, my mother and my sister are actually both AICF alumni. It was very natural for me to be a musician because I heard classical music from the first day I was born. When I started my high school studies at Thelma Yellin School of the Arts, the love for music changed from being a thing that I’m used to, to a true passion and an exciting world I would like to explore.
2) What was your creative journey that has brought you to where you are today?
I’m fascinated by the history of chamber music. This music was written intentionally to be performed in a room. It’s a very intimate music, and I love recreating the performance in a room, where the audience and the musicians are close to each other and react one to another. That’s why I’m very excited about my new concert lecture series MusicTalks that take place in small venues and encourage a discussion between the performers and their audience.
3) What do you need as an artist today? I’ve invested so much over the years in my musicals studies, and now I’m looking for a border audience to come and enjoy the music. Unfortunately the classical music is not as popular is it used to be (or as it should be) and I would love for more people to be exposed to my concerts and attend them. So, it’s a combination of need of more publicity and more audience to attend the concert.
4) What creative project are you working on now?
MusicTalks is my premiere project, I combine two of my greatest passions: Chamber music, and studying and understanding music better. by combining the two in my concert lectures, I talk to the audience about the music that is being played, making the classical music more accessible. In other words, I want to give the listener an experience that will truly make the “Music Talk.”
5) Where do you see yourself and your career in 10 years?
I would love to keep doing what I’m doing now, but on a broader scale. I would love for Music Talks to become a greater movement, and to have outreach programs where instead of having people attend concerts, I will go with my musicians and make classical music more approachable. I’m teaching quite a lot, and I love teaching. I love passing the torch tot he next generation.
6) What does it mean to you to be an Israeli artist?
Whenever I perform I feel the I represent Israel and show the beauty of my country. Israel’s art is so diverse, colorful and unique, and I feel like I’m a piece of a beautiful mosaic of the Israeli Arts.
7) What does it mean to you to have an organization like AICF available in the art world?
AICF is the reason there are arts in Israel. Without AICF, I’m not sure I would have been where I am today. They help young artist and give them both financial help and a moral boost by recognizing their talents. AICF guides and assist the musicians throughout the years and it is always a home for all artists in Israel.
