Connecting to the essence
of who we truly are
For over 20 years, Israeli composer, performer and educator Maya Raviv has dedicated her work to creating music which penetrates the depths of the human soul. Maya's music, born from the sacred wisdom of ancient Hebrew texts, inspirits healing and inspiration, and helps us connect to the essence of who we truly are.
For over 10 years, Maya's original compositions from the Hebrew Psalms have served listeners, audience members and workshop participants in Israel, the United States and worldwide by creating and holding space for moments of healing, inspiration and self-reflection.
psalms
Project
On May 4, 2022, Maya was honored to become the first woman to sing prayers at Israel's National Memorial Day Ceremony. The nationally televised ceremony, officiated by the Defense Secretary, General Benny Gantz, was held at Remembrance Hall on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem. Maya sang her original compositions Lecha Dumiyah Tehila and Shir Hama'alot.
PUBLISHED WORKS
SELECTED PERFORMANCES
2010 UNITED NATIONS
"SHALOM ALEICHEM" AT THE UNITED NATIONS
LINCOLN CENTER
SYMPHONY SPACE, NYC, WITH OMAR FARUK TEKBILEK
COMPOSING FOR THE "PSALMS PROJECT" IN THE GAILEE
LUNA STUDIOS TEL AVIV
CAMPAIGN FOR GILAD SHALIT
PREMIERE OF "ECHAD" AT LINCOLN CENTER
NATIONAL MEMORIAL SERVICE
WITH THE TEL AVIV CHAMBER CHOIR
CHANEL 1 TV ISRAEL
NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY, HAR HERTZL, JERUSALEM
PROGRAM FOR BEREAVED FAMILIES, GALILEE
SELECTED WORKS & PERFORMANCES
2004 To the Eagle (Album) Hebrew prayers, for voice and violin
2006 Echad (One) Lincoln Center, New York City, Hebrew-Arab prayer
commissioned by the Society for Universal Sacred Music
2008 Shalom Aleichem United Nations Headquarters, New York City
2008 Nishmat Kol Chai Commissioned by Kabbalah Centre, Sidney, Australia
2009 Mabat Einecha Commissioned by the campaign for the release of Gilad Schalit, with
Aviva Schalit and the Tel Aviv Chamber choir, conducted by Michael Shani
2011 Shir Hama’alot (Psalm 126) Symphony Space, New York City, with renowned Sufi
musician Omar Faruk Tekbilak
2017 Echad (One) (Album) Commissioned works
2019 Tfilati (My Prayer) (Album) First album from The Psalms Project, voice and piano
2022 National Memorial Day Ceremony, National Memorial Hall, Har Herzl, Jerusalem
BIOGRAPHY
Israeli composer, performer and educator Maya Raviv breathes new life into ancient Hebrew texts, fusing universal themes from the Jewish tradition with the healing power of music to connect to the larger human experience.
Born and raised in the Middle East and educated in the United States, Maya has absorbed the sounds and stories of many faiths, all of which have influenced her life’s work. Maya has carried out her mission performing for Iraqi refugees in Jordan, Holocaust survivors in Oklahoma, at the Lincoln Center and the United Nations Headquarters, and in kindergartens, nursing homes, hospitals, churches and synagogues all across America.
In 2007, Maya returned to Israel’s Western Galilee and dedicated her musical work to the families of those lost to war, performing at the Israeli Defense Force’s national memorial services, and for the campaign for the release of hostage Gilad Schalit, until he was freed in 2011.
From 2009 to 2013 Maya was a Composer-In-Residence for the Society for Universal Sacred Music, and served as a member of its Board of Directors. Maya holds a master’s degree in music composition and a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Oklahoma City University. Prior to that she studied dance and theater at Tel Aviv Kibbutzim College.
Maya's first solo album, "To the Eagle, " is a compilation of Hebrew prayers composed and arranged for voice and violin. Her second album, "Echad," includes universal prayers from the Hebrew liturgy and poetry, including a shared Jewish-Muslim prayer, which premiered in 2006 at the Lincoln Center in New York. Maya's third album, "Tfilati," is arranged for piano and solo voice, and is the first album of the Psalms Project.
Since 2012, Maya has dedicated her work to The Psalms Project, composing universal prayers from the ancient Hebrew Psalms. As part of the project, Maya leads workshops of self-exploration and emotional healing, a process facilitated by an immersive and enveloping soundtrack of her live music. The Psalms Project concerts and workshops are offered live in the Galilee and worldwide via Zoom.
In 2022, Maya became the first woman to sing prayers at Israel's National Memorial Day ceremony in National Memorial Hall, on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.