Nir Brand

Conducter and CEO

In 2000, Brand was picked out by Professor Mendi Rodan to become his personal student, supporting Brand in becoming an educational conductor. Brand has since conducted countless orchestras in front of tens of thousands of children and families, moving forward in his life's mission of bringing the joy of classical music into their lives, making it approachable in his unique and amusing style. Among the orchestras he has worked with are The Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion, The Haifa Symphony Orchestra, The Israel Camerata Jerusalem, The Israel Sinfonietta Beer Sheva, The Raanana Symphonette Orchestra, The Israel Chamber Orchestra, The Israel Netanya Kibbutz Orchestra, The IDF Chamber Orchestra, The Nairobi Orchestra, Kenya National Youth Orchestra and the Safaricom Youth Orchestra Kenya. In 2001, Brand faced a great number of people, suggesting that he creates a similar programme for children. This gave birth to ClassiKid, which is now a government-funded program for Israeli schoolchildren, to teach them life skills such as tolerance, listening to one another, being polite, studying and encouraging teamwork. Throughout the programme children are given a guided tour of the history of music with a variety of different classical musical styles and pieces being utilised within the classes to emphasise the lessons being imparted by the musician. Each year of the programme is based on seven separate events, adapted specifically for the different age groups. Over 100,000 students have joined the programme so far, and the numbers are growing steadily. Cities in which the program is taught, include Sderot, Ashkelon, Migdal Haemek and Kiryat Shmona, all located in conflict zones. The programme supports the children in order to better deal with anxieties and stressful situations that are a part of their daily lives.