Francisca Balass

Mrs. Balass has been a private teacher since 2014. As a devoted musician, she has a long history of using music as a tool for social integration, education, and healing. At age, 13 she won second place in the Panhellenic competition for flute. She earned a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. As well, she completed an Academic Baccalaureate from 9th Lyceum of Maroussi (Athens, Greece). She was awarded the Kosmas Galileas Scholarship, winning entry to attend the New Conservatory of Music. She also earned a certificate in flute and violin from the Conservatory of Music, State Conservatory of Thessaloniki, Greece.

She developed a passion for violin at the age of four years and still today is extremely passionate about the importance of music education in society. She has extensive professional music education experiences including teaching violin to people of all ages—primarily children and disadvantaged minorities through her families non-profit organziation, ART Bridges, as the Co-Founder and Music Coordinator.

As a talented violin instructor, she has taught at several music schools in Jerusalem, teaching all ages and levels in both private lessons and with groups in the classroom. She has performed as a freelance musician with various ensembles as well as with Be’er Sbeva Sinfonietta, & Revolution Orchestra.

She possesses an extensive volunteering resume, earning awards including the Youth Volunteer Award in the category of “Colombians Abroad” for work with children and young refugees in Greece [2017]. She has been recognized in the media for her work with refugees from the BBC News special “Teaching Violin to Migrant Kids” and Al Jazeera: “Learning Violin in a Refugee Camp.”

Francisca has actively participated in various master classes such as: Mozarteum Mastercalss in Salzburg(violin and flute), the International Masterclass in Israel (“Keshet Eilon”) - being instructed by worldwide violinists such as Maestro Moti Schmitt, Giorgos Demertzis, Alexadros Xalapsis, Prof. Guy Figer, and Rudolf Koelman. She also studied and performed with maestro Ivry Gitlis.

She is fluent in English, Spanish, Greek, and Hebrew.