Max Stern (b. 1947 USA) – composer, performer, conductor, musicologist and educator - is a pioneer figure in Israel's musical life and has created a rich genre of biblical compositions blending East and West with contemporary idioms and genres. Conductor Uri Mayer wrote, “(Max Stern) is Israel’s most soulful composer; his works are beautifully crafted and expressive.” He is recipient of MacDowell Colony Fellowships, the Israel Composer's League Lieberson Prize, 1990, an award from the Japanese Society for Contemporary Music, 1991, and special mention at the International Epicmusic Composition Prize (Italy), 2004. He served on the executive board of the Israel Composers' League, represented Israel at ISCM Festivals in Oslo, Zurich, Mexico City and Essen, and was their first representative to the Asia Composers League (ACL) in Manila, Philippines, 1997. Max Stern immigrated to Israel from New York City in 1976. He played contrabass in the Kol Israel Radio Orchestra and the Israel Sinfonietta, Beer Sheva (1979). In affiliation with Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, he founded an orchestra and chorus - integrating university students, local amateurs and professionals. In 2000 he formed the Beer Sheva Cantor's Choir, receiving recognition from the Histadrut Federation of Labor for his contribution to the development of musical life in the Negev, 2003. While serving as music critic for The Jerusalem Post, he joined the faculty of the Ariel University Center of Samaria (2000) - writing ground breaking books on Bible & Music and Psalms & Music that received international critical acclaim. Recently he retired as professor emeritus.