Foreign Ministry presents: 9-year-old envoy

Tom Zalmanov, a gifted pianist from Kfar Saba, performs worldwide as Israel's cultural ambassador
Itamar Eichner

Meet Israel's youngest cultural ambassador sent to perform worldwide by the Foreign Ministry: Tom Zlmanov, a nine-year-old gifted pianist from Kfar Saba.

Zalmanov returned several days ago from a successful tour in Thailand and Vietnam, which was initiated and sponsored by the Israeli embassies in Bangkok and Hanoi. He was accompanied by his parents, Alex and Tania.

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About a week before his arrival, a special press conference was held at the embassy via video conference, during which the child answered reporters' questions.

In the city of Saigon he was greeted by journalists and photographers who accompanied him throughout the visit. Between the concert rehearsals, Tom found the time to meet with young musicians from the Saigon Conservatory and tell them about life in Israel and about his life as a young musician.

The climax of his visit was a concert accompanied by the symphonic orchestra of Saigon. More than 500 people squeezed into the auditorium in order to listen to Tom play. He was asked to perform a number of encores.

'Music unites the nations'

Nati Brooks, deputy chief at the Israeli Embassy in Hanoi, said that the Israeli child had become a media star. Tom's performances in Thailand were also very successful.

This is not the first time Tom goes on a tour abroad on behalf of the State. Several months ago, he was sent by the Keren Hayesod foundation fund to perform in Holland and Denmark. This is the first time the Foreign Ministry and Israeli embassies worldwide have decided to recruit him as a cultural ambassador.

Tom's teacher is Adela Omansky of the Kfar Saba Conservatory and he is financially supported bys businessman Motti Zisser.

And what does the child have to say? "I feel a bit like an ambassador and I believe I have brought respect to the State. I was granted permission to be absent from school for a few days, but don't see this as a vacation. I have been working hard and performing. I believe music unites the nations."