Abraham Kefeli

(b. January 15, 1972, Simferopol). Ukrainian-born Israeli composer of mostly orchestral and chamber works that have been performed in Europe and the Middle East; he is also active as a pianist and researcher.
Mr. Kefeli studied composition with Vladimir Krasnoskulov and jazz piano with Kim Nazaretov at the State Conservatory of Music in Rostov-na-Donu from 1992-97, where he earned his MA with honors in both subjects. He had post-graduate studies with Vladimir Krasnoskulov there from 1997-2002 and earned his DMus. He also studied composition with André Hajdu at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat-Gan from 1999-2001 and with Edwin Seroussi at Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 2001-02.
Among his honors is a prize for use of folk music in the Russian Jazz Performers competition (1992) and First Prize in the competition of the Meta-Art festival in Kyiv (1997, for Music for Three).
As a pianist, he has primarily played his own music. He has worked as a hazzan (cantor) in Ashdod since 2000 and is also active as a publisher and researcher of Karaism. He is the author of the book Catalogue of Tombstone Monuments in the Halich Karaim Cemetery (2000, Ukrainian Ministry of Culture) and made a Russian translation of Fairy Tales of the Crimean Karaim (2002, National Minorities of Ukraine). He has also written articles about the Karaim.
He taught composition at the Troyezshina Art School in Kyiv from 1997-99 and composition, organ and piano at the Titora Institute of Art Development in Modiin in 1999-2000.
SELECT LIST OF WORKS
ORCHESTRAL: Chufut-Kale – Jewish Fortress (symphonic poem), large orchestra, 1994; Concerto, piano, large orchestra, 1997; Dreams of the Gypsy Baron, piano, string orchestra, 2000; Tahanun – Plea (symphony), large orchestra, 1997-2002
CHAMBER MUSIC: Samba for a Mechanical Doll, clarinet, piano, 1991; Sonata, cello, piano, 1992; Variations for String Quartet on the Karaitic Folksong 'Allef Binha' – Teach Your Son, 1993; Genesis, tenor saxophone, trombone, piano, percussion, 1994; Seliha, flute, violin, cello, piano, percussion, 1996; Music for Three, guitar, violin, bayan, 1997; Three Movements, double bass, piano, 2000; Sonata, violin, 2001
CHORAL: The Cloud (text by the composer), mixed chorus, 1995
VOCAL: The Girl with a Face like the Moon (text by Nizami Ganjavi [translated by the composer; also Russian translation by Pavel Antokolsky, V. Uspensky, I. Bruny]), tenor, piano, 1995 (also version for tenor, small orchestra, 1995)
PIANO: Pieces for Piano, 1990; Preludes for Piano, 1993; Sonata, 2001
kefeli72@gmail.com