Betty Olivero facts for kids

Betty Olivero (born May 16, 1954) is a famous Israeli composer and music teacher. She writes many different kinds of music.

Who is Betty Olivero?

Betty Olivero was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. Her parents were Dora Kapon and Eli Olivero. She loved music from a young age.

She studied music at Tel Aviv University. In 1978, she earned a Bachelor's degree in Music. She learned to play the piano with Ilona Vincze-Kraus. She also learned how to compose music. Her teachers for composition were Yizhak Sadai and Leon Schidlowsky.

Betty then went to Yale University in the United States. She continued her music studies there. She learned from famous composers like Jacob Druckman and Bernard Rands. She earned her Master's degree in Music in 1981.

After her studies, Betty moved to Florence, Italy. She studied with the well-known composer Luciano Berio. This was from 1983 to 1986. She started her career as a composer in Europe.

She got married to Raffaello Majoni and had two children. In 2002, she came back to Israel. She became a professor of composition at Bar-Ilan University. This means she taught students how to write music. In 2008, she received "tenure." This means she got a permanent teaching position. She was the first woman to become a professor of composition at an Israeli university!

From 2004 to 2008, she worked with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. She was their "composer-in-residence." This means she wrote music especially for them.

Betty Olivero's music is played all over the world. Many famous groups have performed her pieces. These include the BBC Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra have also played her music.

Awards and Honors

Betty Olivero has received many important awards for her music. These awards show how talented she is.

• Leonard Bernstein scholarship
• Fromm Music Foundation Award (USA, 1986)
• Koussevitzky Award (USA, 2000)
• Prime Minister's Prize (Israel, 2001)
• Rosenblum Award for the Performing Arts (Israel, 2003)
• Landau Award for the Performing Arts (Israel, 2004)
• ACUM Prize for lifetime achievement (Israel, 2004)

Her Music

Betty Olivero writes music for many different instruments and voices. She composes for large orchestras, small groups, and solo performers.

Instrumental Music

This is music written for instruments only.

• Pan (1984, revised 1988) – for 5 flutes
• Batnun (1985) – for double bass and a small orchestra
• Ketarim (Crowns) (1989) – for violin and orchestra
• Adagio (1990) – for a small orchestra
• Sofim (Endings) (1991) – for piano
• Per Viola (1993) – for viola
• Mareot (Mirrors) (1994) – for flute and violin
• Carosello (1994) – for string orchestra, percussion, and a children’s orchestra
• Kavei-or (Light Lines) (1999) – for orchestra
• Merkavot (Chariots) (1999) – for orchestra
• Neharót Neharót (2006–2007) – for solo viola, accordion, percussion, two string orchestras, and tape

Vocal Music

This is music that includes singing.

• Cantes Amargos (1984) – for a female voice and a small orchestra
• Makamat (1988) – five Middle-Eastern folk songs for a female voice and nine instruments
• Juego de Siempre (The Never-Ending Game) (1991, revised 1994) – 12 folk songs in Ladino for a female alto voice and orchestra
• Bakashot (Supplications) (1996) – for clarinet, choir, and orchestra
• Achot ketana (Little Sister) (2000) – for soprano, three solo violins, string orchestra, and clarinet
• Hosha’anot (2000, revised 2003) – for soprano and orchestra

Recordings

You can find Betty Olivero's music on many CDs. Some of these include:

• Cantigas Sephardies (1985)
• Makamat (1989)
• Juego de Siempre (1991)
• Bakashot (1996)
• Mizrach (1998)
• Achot ketana (2001)
• Sofim (2003)