Winners of the Minister's Prize for Musical Achievement Announced Composer Rabbi Haim Louk, (father of LA's Ari Louk) 
the Camari Project, the Sirenot Ensemble and Elon Bor have won the Prize for Musical Achievement Israelís Minister of Culture and Sport, Limor Livnat, announced the winners of the Minister's Prize for Musical Achievement for the year 2009-2010, in the amount of ILS 155,000. The winners are composer Rabbi Haim Louk, the Camari Project, and the Sirenot Ensemble. A special prize given by the Trustees of the prize Committee for the amount of ILS 10,000 will be granted to Mr. Elon Bor, a veteran percussionist for the Philharmonic Orchestra. Minister Livnat: "I congratulate them on their winnings." Details of winnings, as follows: Rabbi Haim Louk won the Frank Peleg prize in the amount of ILS 65,000 for his long-term impressive achievement in high-level musical performances. Amongst the judges were Ms. Michal Zmura-Cohen - Chairwoman, Professor Edwin Serousi, Professor Yehoash Hirschberg, Professor Michael Wolpe, Dr. Avishai Ya'ar and Dovi Lentz. The judges wrote: "The prize is bestowed upon the composer and educator, Rabbi Haim Louk, for his lifetime achievement in eternalizing the musical traditions of the Jews of Morocco, and for establishing it for generations of both young and old, in every walk of life in Israeli society, and for advancing inter-religious tolerance and peace by way of music. Rabbi Louk was born in Casablanca in 1942, where he began his musical journey as a choirboy in the Em HaBanim School. Rabbi Haim Louk has dedicated his energies to popularizing this type of song and composition in wide circles, while blending his performances with different venues and with other performers such as the Andalusian Orchestra, and has educated people about this music within programs such as "Kehillot Sharot" ("Community Sing") throughout Israel. His artistic variety has brought him to broaden his performance repertoires out of his original area of expertise. For example, his performances of the Songs of the Land genre (Shirei Eretz Yisrael) are unique in their clear vocal quality, and his alternative interpretations have given these songs a new and surprising depth. For the high artistic quality of his performances, for his curiosity in learning new repertoires and for high-level performance of them, for his diversified style that crosses ethnic and religious boundaries, for his international achievements in music, the Committee has decided to bestow this prestigious prize upon Rabbi Haim Louk." The prize ceremony will take place at the beginning of the Israeli Music Festival on Sunday, 4 Tishrei 5772, October 2, at 6:30 pm at the Tel Aviv Museum. This translation is an excerpt of Nimrod Dvirís article on 8/1/11- Ma'ariv online
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