Bat-Galim Choir is a community-based musical project and a space for musical creativity and development. The choir has been active for five years, holding weekly rehearsals at Aliyah School and taking part in community and city events throughout Haifa.
The choir was founded and is led by Talya Eliav, a composer and performer who holds a Master’s degree in Composition from the University of Haifa and was awarded the 2024 Israel Prime Minister’s Prize for Composers. Talya lives and works in Haifa’s Bat-Galim neighborhood.
The choir has received funding for projects and performances from various organizations, including Beit HaGefen, Haifa Museums, and the Boston-Haifa Connection (CJP). It gives approximately four to five concerts each year and has performed at festivals and venues throughout Haifa and the surrounding area. These include Septemberfest and neighborhood festivals such as “Beit Galim” and “Karov LaBayit,” where the choir has performed in public spaces, including street corners, alleyways, and squares. It has also performed at venues such as the Haifa City Museum, the National Maritime Museum, the Flour Mill, Or Hadash Reform Synagogue, The Flamenco Kantara, Hammam al-Pasha, and others. As part of the CJP call, the choir initiated performances combining music, food, and dancing.
The choir’s repertoire is primarily a cappella, with occasional accompaniment of a single drum, and is based mainly on Hebrew songs from across the generations, in original contemporary arrangements by Talya Eliav. It also includes Renaissance and classical music, gospel, and works by contemporary composers and performances incorporate movement and body percussion.
The choir is a space for shared creative activity, with its members taking an active role in initiating and producing its events. The choir’s costumes, for example, are made by the members themselves. Each year, the choir also organizes a weekend retreat that includes an overnight stay, a hike, and workshops involving improvisation, musical games, and movement.
Over the years, the choir has initiated musical workshops for the local public, collaborations with other choirs in northern Israel and has performed for a variety of audiences, including children and older adults.
The choir’s Instagram page is a great place to listen to and watch videos, stay updated on upcoming performances, and get a sense of the choir’s activities!
Visit the choir’s Instagram page
Interested in singing with us? Email us at: batgalim.choir@gmail.com
Logo design: Yael Ofir
Photos: Liron Barchat, Adi Lam
