From the CD booklet:
This CD features a selection of pieces played by the winners of the 2nd Aviv Competitions, held at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art in February 2000. The Aviv Competitions consolidate several older competitions involving the same sponsors: America-Israel Cultural Foundation, the Israeli Ministry of Science, Culture and Sport – Music Department, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, and the Jerusalem Music Centre.

The competitions incorporated include the François Schapira Competition for Young Musicians (since 1976), the Rafi Guralnik Piano Prize (since 1992), the Ilona Kornhauzer Violin Prize (since 1990), the Joachim Stutschewsky Cello Prize, the Ollja and Miriam Zilbermann Prize for the Interpretation of Israeli Music, and others. The purpose of the Aviv Competitions is to help Israeli performers between the ages of 19 and 29 in the development of  solo careers. They are held in three to five categories each year, each category repeated in a three-year cycle, and include two stages: (a) a full recital; (b) an Israeli work and a concerto. In addition to cash prizes and public exposure, winners are offered concert and broadcasting opportunities and help in career management in Israel. They also participate in a CD produced by the Jerusalem Music centre. There is only one prize in each category, the awarding of which is not mandatory if a majority of jury members does not find an eligible musician.In the Aviv Competitions 2000 three prizes were awarded: the Rafi Guralnik Prize for piano were awarded to 23 year old pianist Dror Biran, currently a student of Arie Vardi at the Rubin Academy of the Tel Aviv University. Dror has been appearing in Recital and as soloist with orchestras throughout the world, and has won various national and international prizes.

The François Schapira Prize for woodwinds, and the Zilbermann prize for the interpretation of Israeli Music were both awarded to 23 year old clarinetist Alexander Fiterstein, presently a student of charles Neidich at the Juillard School in New York. Alexander is active both as a soloist and as a chamber musician, and his repetoire includes traditional as well as contemporary works, some of which he premiered to critical acclaim.

 
© A production of the Jerusalem Music Centre
Recorded at the Jerusalem Music Centre in 2000
Producer: Abraham Gat
Tone master: Vadim Beili
Recording Engineer: Ilia Beck
Graphic Design: Studio Kav-Graph
Photography: Leon Sokoletsky
Booklet Notes: Elisheva Rigbi