On his recent visit to Israel to conduct a special concert with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra to mark the State’s 60th anniversary elebrations, Italian conductor, Riccardo Muti, decided to contribute his honorarium to Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel. On a previous visit last year, Maestro Muti also donated his conductor’s fee to the medical center following a tour of the facility. He was particularly impressed with the all-embracing atmosphere and the hospital’s “bridge to peace” efforts.

At the concert which took place on May 22nd, Maestro Muti was overcome with emotion when he was presented with a framed certificate and bouquet of flowers by two children, an Arab and a Jew, who are being treated at Schneider Children’s. The girl, Rula Abass from Julis, and the boy, Shai Verkana of Pardes Hanna, are both liver recipients who underwent transplant surgery at Schneider Children’s. Upon learning that Rula has been studying piano for the past seven years, Maestro Muti encouraged her to continue.

Both Maestro Muti and Violinist Vadim Rappin, donated their fees to the hospital through the association of Friends of Schneider Children’s.

May 2008