Gerard Levi

Gerard Levi is born in Paris in 1936 in a well-known Jewish family - both of his great-grand-fathers were chef Rabbis of France between 1870 and 1938. His family survived German occupation during the WWII by hiding in different places and under several false identities. Back in Paris after the war, Gerard Levi studied music with Marcelle Frank and organ with Marie-Louise Girod who was appointed organist of both the organs of the Oratoire (main Reformist church in Paris) and the Victoire Synagogue (main synangogue in Paris).

After high school he turned to business school training, then he was sent with the French army to defense the duying Algerie Francaise. Discharged in 1959, he emigrated to Israel where he also served in the Israeli army and fought both Six-day and Yom-Kippur wars.

In 1981 he and the Israeli organbuilder Gideon Shamir built a home organ in G. Levi's home - a 17-rank, entirely hand-made instrument. Since then Mr. Levi's residence has become a meeting point of all Israeli organists and organ lovers. Many of them have performed there private concerts, and many of the international organists have played there as well.

Gerard Levi is also very much interested in the organs existing in Israel and has gathered lots os information about them.

For contacts:
Gerard Levi
22, Itshar street
Gilo
Jerusalem
ph: 972-2-645 2448