The Buchmann-Mehta School of Music at Tel Aviv University is Israel's foremost institution for advanced musical training. Established in 2005 through the merger of the Samuel Rubin Israel Academy of Music (founded 1945), Tel Aviv University's Musicology Department, and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra's orchestral training programme, the school carries a legacy of over seven decades of musical excellence.
The school is named in honour of its generous benefactors and counts Maestro Zubin Mehta, the legendary conductor and longtime music director of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, as its Honorary President. This connection to the Israel Philharmonic gives students unparalleled access to one of the world's great orchestras.
The school is renowned for its Excellence Programme, which awards full scholarships to the most gifted young musicians from around the world. This programme has attracted exceptional talent across all instruments and disciplines, establishing the school as a global destination for serious musicians seeking the highest level of training.
Among the school's most distinguished faculty is Professor Arie Vardi, the legendary Israeli pianist and pedagogue who has served the institution since 1977. Under Vardi's guidance, the school's piano department has produced an extraordinary lineage of prize-winning pianists.
Hong Kong pianist Tin-Pui Tang was awarded a full scholarship to the Excellence Programme, obtaining his Artist Diploma in 2022 under the direct tutelage of Professor Arie Vardi. This distinction places Tin-Pui among an elite cohort of international pianists trained at one of the world's most selective music institutions.