The JSO welcomes Prof. Dan Galai as chairman of the JSO Friends Association
The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra is delighted to announce the joining of Prof. Dan Galai – starting January 1 2024 – as chairman of the JSO Friends Association

The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra is delighted to announce the joining of Prof. Dan Galai - starting January 1 2024 - as chairman of the JSO Friends Association. The activity of the JSO Friends Association will be formalized on a regular basis and the orchestra sees this as a substantial challenge in establishing the JSO as an anchor institution in Jerusalem, in Israel and throughout the world.
Prof. Galai, who was born in Jerusalem, is a senior lecturer at the academy, an entrepreneur and economist, specializing in financing and financial engineering, derivatives and risk management who had also written a few books on these subjects, a stock market publicist and lover of culture and music. He brings with him rich experience in the worlds of economics, inititation and the academy - and he believes that the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra can reach new heights with the help of the backing of of a friends association which would provide a 'third side of the triangle', in financial terms. "Relying on public budget, as well as self income brings culture institutions to an ever-existing survival state, of 'barely being able able to keep their heads above the water", he elaborates.
Navit Balkanai, a member of the JSO's general assembly, will serve as Galai's right hand, and will manage the friends association. She brings great love and passion for music and culture and has a rich background in the world of marketing and hi-tech.
Ofer Amsalem, the orchestra's CEO, welcomes Galai on his new role and says: "Institutionalizing the friends association, led by Prof. Galai, is a true blessing for the orchestra. Dan brings extensive experience, and together we set out and start 2024 on the front foot. I have no doubt that this is a process of building for generations to come, and that the foundations which we would lay now will assist the JSO in the coming years."