The JSO welcomes Prof. Dan Galai as chairman of the JSO Friends Association

December 31, 2023

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 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 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."