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With roots and upbringing spanning Yemen, Israel and the United States, Achinoam Nini aka Noa is a singer, songwriter, poet, composer and percussionist, speaker, activist and a mother of three children.
'''Achinoam Nini''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: {{hebrew|אחינועם ניני}}; Aẖinóʻam Nini; born June 23, 1969; known outside Israel as '''Noa'''), is an Israeli singer.<ref>{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p1739071/biography|pure_url=yes}}|title=Biography: Achinoam Nini|last=Birchmeier|first=Jason|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|accessdate=April 9, 2010}}</ref> She is accompanied by guitarist Gil Dor and often plays the conga drums as she sings.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8770665.html|title=A little bit of Berklee in Tel Aviv|publisher=[[HighBeam Research]]|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=December 6, 1992}}</ref> Nini represented Israel at the [[Eurovision Song Contest]] in 2009 together with singer [[Mira Awad]], with the song "[[There Must Be Another Way]]."

Together with her longstanding musical collaborator Gil Dor, accomplished musician and co-founder of the Rimon School of music, Noa has released 15 international albums and graced many of the world’s most important and prestigious stages like Carnegie hall and the White House, and has performed for 3 Popes. She has been mentored by Pat Metheny and Quincy Jones, and shared the stage with legends such as Stevie Wonder, Andrea Bocelli and Sting. In addition to her prolific musical activity, Noa is considered Israel’s most prominent cultural advocate of peace, her “Voice of Peace”.


==Biography==
==Biography==
'''Achinoam Nini''' ([[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]: {{hebrew|אחינועם ניני}}; Aẖinóʻam Nini; known outside Israel as '''Noa'''), was born in [[Bat Yam]], Israel, On June 23, 1969, to a [[Yemenite Jews|Yemenite Jewish]] family, and moved to New York City at the age of two.
Achinoam Nini was born in [[Bat Yam]], Israel, to a [[Yemenite Jews|Yemenite Jewish]] family, and moved to New York City at the age of two.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenland.com/noa.htm|title=Noa's biography |website=Goldenland.com|accessdate=November 29, 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117055410/http://www.goldenland.com/noa.htm |archivedate=November 17, 2011|deadurl=no}}</ref> She attended [[SAR Academy]] and Rabbi Joseph H. Lookstein Upper School of [[Ramaz High School]], remaining in New York until her return to Israel alone at the age of 16.<ref>[http://www.jewishindependent.ca/Archives/July11/archives11July08-05.htmlStill optimistic about peace] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131229142732/http://www.jewishindependent.ca/Archives/July11/archives11July08-05.html|date=December 29, 2013 }} ''Jewish Independent'', July 8, 2011.</ref>


She attended [[SAR Academy]] and [[Ramaz High School]], remaining in New York until her return to Israel alone at the age of 16 for love.
She completed her mandatory service in the [[Israel Defense Forces]] performing with a military entertainment troupe.<ref>[http://www.esra-magazine.com/blog/post/arts-achinoam--life-is-beautiful Life is Beautiful] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105203738/http://www.esra-magazine.com/blog/post/arts-achinoam--life-is-beautiful|date=November 5, 2016}}</ref> After her release she studied music at the [[Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music]] in [[Ramat Hasharon]], where she met her long-time partner and collaborator [[Gil Dor]], then a faculty member of the school.<ref>[http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/nini-achinoam Nini, Achinoam], [[Jewish Virtual Library]]</ref>


She completed her mandatory service in the [[Israel Defense Forces]] performing with a military entertainment troupe. After her release she studied music at the [[Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music]] in [[Ramat Hasharon]], where she met her long-time partner and collaborator [[Gil Dor]], co-founder and academic director of the school.
Nini is married to Asher Barak, a [[pediatrician]]. They have three children.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

Noa is married to Dr. Asher Barak (The original love for whom she returned to Israel at age 16) ,  a [[Pediatrician|pediatric]] pulmonologist. They have three children – Ayehli, Enea and Yum.

<br />


==Music career==
==Music career==
Noa started writing poems and putting them to music at age 8. Her strongest influences come from the singer-songwriters of the 60s, like Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. These musical and lyrical sensibilities, combining traditional Yemenite music, Jazz, folk, classical and rock influences, have created Noa and Gil’s unique sound, manifested in hundreds of songs written and performed together. Noa plays percussion, guitar and piano.
Nini has performed in [[Carnegie Hall]] and [[Avery Fisher Hall]] in New York City, [[Olympia (Paris)|Olympia]] in Paris, Rome's [[Colosseum]], [[Barbican Arts Centre|The Barbican]] in London, [[Zellerbach Auditorium]] in Berkeley, California, the [[Ravinia Festival]] in Chicago, the [[Montreux Jazz Festival]] in Switzerland, the [[North Sea Jazz Festival]] in the Netherlands, and the [[Stockholm Water Festival]] in Sweden, as well as having done numerous successful tours in major venues and festivals throughout Europe, the USA, Canada, Brazil and Japan.

[[File:Bardentreffen Fr 0202.JPG|thumb|Achinoam Nini at the [[Bardentreffen]] festival 2014]]
During her career that spans over 28 years, Noa’s extraordinary vocal range, versatility and creativity have brought her from stadiums to clubs, arenas to underground venues, classical concert halls to experimental dives.
[[File:Bardentreffen Fr 0565.JPG|thumb|Noa and Gil Dor at the [[Bardentreffen]] festival 2014]]

She has performed in [[Carnegie Hall]] and [[Avery Fisher Hall]] in New York City, [[Olympia (Paris)|Olympia]] in Paris, Rome's [[Colosseum]], [[Barbican Arts Centre|The Barbican]] in London, [[Zellerbach Auditorium]] in Berkeley, California, the [[Ravinia Festival]] in Chicago, the [[Montreux Jazz Festival]] in Switzerland, the [[North Sea Jazz Festival]] in the Netherlands, and the [[Stockholm Water Festival]] in Sweden to name a few, and has done numerous successful tours in major venues and festivals throughout Europe, North and South America, and the Far East.

Noa writes in English and Hebrew but has performed in Arabic, Italian, French, Spanish, Catalan, German, Chinese, Japanese and Portuguese.

=== Gil Dor ===
Gil Dor is Noa’ musical and artistic director as well as co-writer arranger, producer and guitarist. Born 1952 in Israel Gil Studied classical guitar, served in the Israeli Army as a musician in an entertainment unit 1971-1974, and continued his studies in the U.S.A concentrating on jazz at Berklee College in Boston and on classical theory and composition at Queens College in NY.

Upon returning to Israel in 1981 Gil established himself as a guitarist as well as an arranger/composer performing live jazz and rock and recording with leading artists in Israel. During 1983 & 1984 he taught jazz improvisation and guitar at the “Jerusalem Academy of Music”. In 1985 Gil co-founded the “Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music” in Ramat Hasharon, Israel. In his capacity as “Rimon” academic director for 5 years, Gil developed and wrote many core curriculum as well as advanced courses. He has performed in jazz festivals in Israel and Europe ith his own ensembles and together with Al DiMeola. Since 1990 he has been working exclusively with Noa.  

=== Duets and collaborations ===
Noa first international album was produced by Pat Metheny. Quincy Jones has been her mentor for almost two decades, and is the executive producer of  her recent release “Letters to Bach” . Noa has toured and sang with rock superstar Sting, performed her song “Child of man” with Stevie Wonder , and shared the stage and microphone with many great artists, including:

==== United states ====
Carlos Santana, Sheryl Crow, George Benson, Al Dimeola, Bobby McFerrin, Chick Corea, Mike Manieri, Dee Dee Bridgewater

==== Italy ====
The Solis String Quartet, Nicola Piovanni, Zucchero, , Pino Daniele, Rita Marcotulli, Massimo Ranieri, Carlo Fava, Sarda

==== France ====
Charles Aznavour ,Florent Pagny, Jean-Jacques Goldman, Lokua Kanza, Maurane, Eric Serra, Pascal Obispo, I Muvrini

==== Spain ====
Joan Manuel Serrat, Joaquin Sabina, Miguel Bose,  Jorge Drexler, Pasion Vega

==== Germany ====
Peter Maffay

==== The Middle East ====
Khaled, Mira Awad, Nabil Salameh and RadioDervish, Bustan Avraham,  and many more!

==== Other… ====
Anna Maria Jopek, Johnny Clegg , Bea Palya and Ha Hui (China)
<br />

= Discography =

=== Studio albums ===
·       Achinoam Nini and Gil Dor                                            (1993)

·       Noa                                                                               (1994)

·       Calling                                                                           (1996)

·       Achinoam Nini                                                               (1997)

·       Blue Touches Blue                                                         (2000)

·       Now                                                                               (2002)

·       Noapolis - Noa Sings Napoli                                          (2005)

·       Napoli-Tel Aviv                                                               (2005)

·       Genes & Jeans                                                              (2008)

·       There Must Be Another Way - with Mira Awad             (2009)        

·       The Israeli Songbook                                                     (2011)

·       Love Medicine                                                               (2015)

·       Letters to Bach                                                              (2019)

=== Live albums ===
·       Achinoam Nini and Gil Dor Live                             (1991)

·       Achinoam Nini & the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra       (1998)

·       Noa Live - DVD/Double CD with the Solis Quartet       (2005)

=== Compilations & other albums ===
·       First Collection                                                        (2001)

·       Noa Gold                                                                 (2003)

·       Classic Noa                                                              (2012)

=== Singing for Film and Theatre ===
In 1998, Noa recorded the part of Esmeralda in French for the original soundtrack of the multi-Platinum selling musical  "Notre Dame de Paris", but did not play the role on stage. Her song "Babel", written in English, French and Hebrew as theme song for the Gerard Pullicino movie of the same name, topped the charts in France the following year.

Noa collaborated with French composer Éric Serra on two songs for film:

"My Heart Calling" from the Luc Besson film "The Messenger" (The story of Joan of Arc, with Milla Jovovich)" – Noa wrote the lyrics and recorded the vocals.

“The Experience of Love" from the James Bond film “[[GoldenEye]]”, - Noa recorded vocals together with Serra.

In 2000, Noa recorded the theme song for Roberto Benigni’s award winning film "[[La vita è bella (song)|La vita è Bella]]",  entitled “Beautiful that way”, for which she also wrote the lyrics, In English and Hebrew, together with Gil Dor. The song was recorded and released with the album Blue Touches Blue, and also appears on the soundtrack of the DVD as well as on her album Noa Gold in two versions.
<br />

= Ambassador of Peace =
On Nov. 4th, 1995, Noa was on stage performing for an audience of 50,000 at the historic peace rally in Tel-Aviv just minutes before the late Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated. She was the first and only major Israeli artist who agreed to have her name posted on the billboards calling for participation in this fateful rally.

The horrible murder of Yitzhak''' ''' Rabin, which took place minutes after Noa finished her performance and embraced the prime minister, devastated Noa and changed her life. It was on that day she decided to dedicate much of her time and energy to speaking out for peace and encouraging dialogue, standing up for the underprivileged and being an active human rights advocate. She has done so ever since, as an inspiring speaker and performer, through musical collaborations, attendance at demonstrations, articles, blogs, posts and interviews, and extensive volunteer work. Noa is Israel’s most outspoken and courageous cultural advocate for peace, a true “Voice of Peace”, a role which has led her to the most wonderful, and challenging, moments of her life. Noa has raised a clear voice for peace for more than two decades, undeterred by fear, incitement against her and threats to her life.


Noa has  collaborated frequently with Arab and Palestinian artists from around the world, including Khaled , Nabil Salameh , Rim Banna,  Amal Murkus and Mira Awad.  Together with Awad, Noa represented Israel in the 2009 Eurovision song contest, singing her self-penned “There must be another way” in English Hebrew and Arabic. The performance had a huge international impact, and was covered by Al Jazeera, CNN, the BBC and the New York Times, amongst others.
Nini has recorded songs in Arabic, English, French, Hebrew, Italian, and Spanish.


Noa supports numerous organizations working for peace and dialogue in Israel. She is on the Board of The New Israel Fund, supporting hundreds of organizations working for equality and human rights in Israel, and of the Umm El Fahem art gallery, directed by her close friend Said Abu Shakra.  She is on the public board of the Polyphony Foundation in Nazareth, which educates Arabs and Jewish Israeli youth in classical music. She supports Bridge over the Wadi, an Arab-Jewish bi-lingual chain of schools throughout Israel, and Kids Creating Peace in Neve Shalom. She supports Combatants for Peace and the Parents Circle, having been one of the very few Israeli artists to agree to sing in their annual joint Jewish/Arab memorial day service.
Nini and Gil Dor have had various ensembles since their early days as an acoustic duet but their longest musical relationship has been with the percussionist [[Zohar Fresco]]. Nini and Dor's ensembles vary from album to album, ranging from collaborations with bands such as [[Solis String Quartet]] to tours with symphonic orchestras. Nini's music is influenced by the singer-songwriters of the 60s such as [[Paul Simon]], [[Joni Mitchell]], [[Leonard Cohen]], and [[James Taylor]]. These musical and lyrical sensibilities, combined with Nini's Yemenite roots and Dor's background in [[jazz]], [[Classical music|classical]], [[country music|country]] and [[Rock music|rock]], have created Nini and Dor's unique sound audible through hundreds of songs written and performed by the duo. Nini plays [[Percussion instrument|percussion]], [[guitar]] and [[piano]].
[[Image:Flickr - Government Press Office (GPO) - SINGER AHINOAM NINI PERFORMING AT THE OPENING OF THE PERES INSTITUTE FOR PEACE.jpg|thumb|left|Achinoam Nini performing at the opening of the Peres Institute for Peace]]


Noa refused to receive a prestigious award when it became known that at the same ceremony, a life-time achievement award would be given to an artist who has used his art in the service of racist views and incitement against Arabs, a man who has expressed support for the murderer Baruch Goldstein (who shot Muslims in the back during prayer) and Yigal Amir, the murderer of Yitzchak Rabin. Her refusal was widely criticized by the artistic community, who sought to “separate politics from art”, but Noa remained steadfast in her belief that elevating an artist with such racist views to “cultural hero” status, as reflected by this particular award, is in effect normalizing his views and statements, and that the role of any society, and especially its artists, is to do exactly the opposite. 
In 1994, Nini performed the English version of ''[[Ave Maria (musical settings)|Ave Maria]]'' for a live audience of 100,000 and a TV audience of millions at the closing event of the [[International Year of the Family]] at the [[Vatican City|Vatican]], Rome, Italy, witnessed by [[Pope John Paul II]].


In March 1999 Noa sang for President Clinton at the White House in the event held by the “Yitzhak Rabin Foundation” honoring the late Rabin’s 77th birthday. She was also invited to sing in Oslo for the anniversary of the Peace accord signed there, before an audience that included President Clinton, Ehud Barak, Yasser Arafat and the King of Norway. Noa was awarded the “Dove of Peace” by Nobel-peace prize laureate Shimon Peres, and has performed on numerous occasions for the “Peres Center for Peace”.
Nini and Dor have performed on numerous occasions with the [[Israel Philharmonic Orchestra]]. They recorded an album during a live performance at Tel Aviv's Mann Auditorium in 1997. Over the years they have collaborated with symphonic orchestras from Lille, Messina, Parma, Murcia, and Florence. In September 2003, Nini performed a song entitled ''L'isola della Luce'' (after the Greek island on which it was performed) which was written by [[Nicola Piovani]] especially for her. The work was commissioned by the [[Cultural Olympics Committee]] in [[Athens]]. In May 2004, the duo performed with the Israeli rhythm and dance troupe [[Be by Mayumana|Mayumana]] between the two final games of the [[Euroleague]] [[basketball]] championship.


Noa was honored with the “Crystal Award” by the “World Economic Forum” in Davos, Switzerland, where she has performed together with Palestinian artists and participated in numerous panels dealing with peace in the Middle East and the role of art and artists in possibly bringing it about. She was also named a “Global Leader of Tomorrow”. In 2001 Noa was again invited to participate in the WEF in NY, where she had the honor of performing in a star-studded gala evening produced by Phil Ramone and Quincy Jones, featuring artists such as Bono, Peter Gabriel, Lauryn Hill, India Arie and many others. In this special concert she performed John Lennon’s immortal “Imagine” together with the Algerian singer Khaled, in Hebrew, English and Arabic. This song became an international hit.
Together with Arab-Israeli singer [[Mira Awad]], Nini represented Israel at the [[Eurovision Song Contest 2009]]. Their song "[[There Must Be Another Way]]" qualified for the first semi final but eventually finished in 16th place.<ref name="euro">{{cite web|url=http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/38022/arab-jewish-singing-duo-go-to-eurovision-on-sour-note/|title=Arab-Jewish singing duo go to Eurovision on sour note|work=[[j.|jWeekly]]|date=May 7, 2009|accessdate=June 17, 2009}}</ref>


In 2000, the Mayor of Melpignano awarded Noa and Nabil Salameh, Lebanese singer songwriter of the group “RadioDervish”, honorary citizenship for their activity for peace. Two years later year, Nabil dedicated one of the group’s albums to Noa’s son, Ayehli.
==Awards==
{{BLP sources section|date=August 2017}}
*In 1999 Noa was honored with the "Crystal Award" by the "[[World Economic Forum]]" in [[Davos|Davos, Switzerland]], where she performed together with Palestinian artists and participated in numerous panels dealing with peace in the Middle East and the role of art and artists towards bringing it about.
*In 2000, the mayor of [[Melpignano]], Italy,{{Who|date=August 2017}} awarded honorary citizenship to Noa and [[Nabil Salameh]] (a Palestinian singer songwriter) for their activity for peace.
*On April 3, 2005, Noa became the first woman to receive the medal of the "Galileo Galilei" order from the "Grand Orient", the Italian arm of the [[Freemasonry|Freemasons]].
*On August 7, 2005, Noa received the "Gemona Seminar" prize for artistic excellence and her contribution to peace and understanding.
*Noa won the "Critics' Award" at the [[Sanremo Music Festival 2006|56th Sanremo Music Festival]] in Italy, appearing with the Solis String Quartet<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.solis.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=89&lang=en|title=Bio|website=Solis.it|date=April 20, 2007|accessdate=November 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426010411/http://www.solis.it/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46&Itemid=89&lang=en|archive-date=2012-04-26|dead-url=yes|df=}}</ref> and Carlo Fava.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.carlofava.it|title=Carlo Fava: official website|website=Carlofava.it|accessdate=November 29, 2011|archivedate=2011-09-28|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928213531/http://www.carlofava.it/|deadurl=no|df=}}</ref>


In May 2002, Noa took part in the first-ever concert at the “Rome Colosseum”, under the banner of “Time for Life- A Tribute for Peace”. The event featured Ray Charles, Mercedes Sousa, Khaled, Nicola Piovani, and various artists from Afghanistan, Sarajevo, Belgrade, Africa and Ireland. Thousands watched the concert on giant video screens.
==Discography==
{{BLP unsourced section|date=August 2017}}
Over the span of their 24-year career, Nini and Gil have written and produced three albums: ''Achinoam Nini and Gil Dor Live'', ''Achinoam Nini and Gil Dor'' (also known as ''Rachel and Leah''), and ''Achinoam Nini''. Their five international albums are ''Noa'' (produced by [[Pat Metheny]]) and ''Calling'' (produced by [[Rupert Hine]]) for [[Geffen Records]], ''Blue Touches Blue'' (produced by [[Mike Hedges]]) for Mercury Records, ''Now'' (produced by Gil Dor & [[Yoad Nevo]]) and ''Genes & Jeans'' (produced by Gil Dor) for Universal Music.


On October16, 2003, Noa was nominated Israel’s first “Goodwill Ambassador” for FAO (the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations).
In addition, Noa recorded a live album with the [[Israel Philharmonic Orchestra]], and a live CD and DVD with The Solis String Quartet.


In May 2004 Noa and Mira Awad performed in “We Are the Future”: a globally telecast fund raising concert for children in conflict areas. The event, which was produced by Quincy Jones for of an audience of 350,000 in Rome’s “Circo Massimo”, and broadcast on MTV, VH1 and various other channels to millions more around the world, featured an international line-up of stars and performers such as Oprah Winfrey, Angelina Jolie, Carlos Santana, Alicia Keys, Andrea Bocelli, Herbie Hancock and many more (this performance was held during Noa’s 6th month of pregnancy!)
===Studio albums===
*''Achinoam Nini and Gil Dor'' (September 1993)
*''Noa'' (March 1994)
*''Calling'' (May 1996)
*''Achinoam Nini'' (April 1997)
*''Blue Touches Blue'' (March 2000)
*''Now'' (September 2002)
*''Genes & Jeans'' (April 2008)
*''Noapolis - Noa Sings Napoli'' (February 2011)
*''The Israeli Songbook'' (March 2011)
*''Love Medicine'' (2015)


Noa performed in Bono and Sir Bob Geldof’s “Live 8” concert in front of hundreds of thousands of people that filled Rome’s Circo Massimo and millions of TV viewers across the world. The concert’s aim was to put pressure on the world’s leading nations to erase third world debts. The Rome line up included: Duran Duran, Faith Hill, Lorenzo (Jovanotti), Nek, Pino Daniele, Antonello Venditti, Claudio Baglioni, Tim McGraw, Velvet and many others
===Live albums===
*''Achinoam Nini and Gil Dor Live'' (July 1991)
*''Achinoam Nini & the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra'' (April 1998)
*''Noa Live'' - DVD/Double CD with the Solis Quartet (October 2005)
*''Napoli-Tel Aviv'' (September 2006)


In June 2006, the Italian Ambassador to Israel notified Noa that the President of the Italian Republic, President Neapolitano, has decided to award her the prestigious “Stella de la Republica ”( the “Star of the Republic) with the status of “Cavalliere” (knight). in 2018, President Mattarella of Italy promoted Noa to Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, one of the highest honors Italy has to give. This happened soon after her historic performances in the Italian Parliament in December of 2017, and later in the Quirinale Palace, on the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
===Compilations & other albums===
*''First Collection'' (March 2001)
*''Noa Gold'' (October 2003)
*''There Must Be Another Way'' - with Mira Awad (2009)


In December 2018 Noa became the first Israeli to recieve the prestigious “Pilgrim of Peace” title in Assisi, an award previously given to  Mikhael Gorbachov, Mother Theresa and Bill Gates.
===Singles===
*''Mishaela (Be'eineiha)'' (1992)
*''Uri (Akara)'' (1992)
*''He (Boi Kala)'' (1993)
*''Nocturno (Keren Or)'' (1993)
*''I Don't Know'' (1994)
*''Ave Maria'' (1994)
*''Wildflower'' (1995)
*''Child of Man'' (1995)
*''U.N.I'' (1996)
*''Too Proud'' (1996)
*''Lama'' (1996)
*''Mark of Cain'' (1996)
*''By the Light of the Moon'' (1996)
*''Vivre'' (1997)
*''Nanua'' (1997)
*''Mushrooms (Pitriot)'' (1997)
*''But Love (Aval Ahava)'' (1997)
*''Babel'' (1999)
*''One Becomes Two'' (1999)
*''Beautiful That Way'' (2000)
*''If I Give You Everything'' (2000)
*''The Beauty of That'' (2000)
*''Again and Again (Otra Vez)'' (2001)
*''Eye in the Sky'' (2002)
*''We'' (2002)
*''Now Forget'' (2003)
*''Shalom, Shalom'' (2003)
*''Dreamer'' (2008)
*''Genes & Jeans'' (2008)
*''There Must Be Another Way'' (2008)
*''Someone Out There (Yesh Ey Sham)'' (2011)
*''There Were Nights (Hayu Leilot)'' (2011)
*''Autumn Wind (Ruach Stav)'' (2011)
*''Lullabye (Shir Eres)'' (2011)
*''Nothing But a Song'' (2014)


= Public Roles =
==Soundtracks==
Board member                              New Israel Fund                            <nowiki>https://www.nif.org/</nowiki>
In 1998, Noa recorded the part of Esmeralda in French for the original soundtrack of the multi-Platinum selling "Notre Dame de Paris", but did not play the role in the musical. Her song "Babel", written in English, French and Hebrew as theme song for the Gerard Pullicino movie of the same name, topped the charts in France the following year.


Board member                              Hispano Judio fund                       <nowiki>https://fundacionhispanojudia.org/</nowiki>
Noa collaborated with French composer Éric Serra on two songs for film: "The Experience of Love" from the James Bond film ''[[GoldenEye]]'', and the song "My Heart is Calling" from the Luc Besson film "The Messenger."


Board member                              Umm El Fahem Gallery                 <nowiki>https://www.ummelfahemgallery.com/</nowiki>  
In 2000, Noa recorded the theme song "[[La vita è bella (song)|La vita è bella]]" of the film ''"[[Life Is Beautiful]]"'', [[Roberto Benigni]]'s Oscar award-winning film. Noa also wrote the lyrics to the song now titled "[[Beautiful That Way]]", together with Dor. The song was recorded and released with the album ''Blue Touches Blue'', and also appears on the soundtrack to the film as well as on her album ''Noa Gold'' in two versions.


Board member                              Polyphony of Nazareth                 <nowiki>http://polyphonyfoundation.org/</nowiki>
==Duets and collaborations==
Nini and Dor have collaborated with Arab and Palestinian artists from around the world, including [[Khaled (musician)|Khaled]] from Algeria, [[Nabil Salameh]], of Palestinian origin, born in Lebanon, Handallah from Nablus, [[Rim Banna]] from Nazareth, [[Amal Murkus]] from Kfar Yasif, and [[Mira Awad]] from Kfar Raameh. On November 4, 1995, she was onstage performing at the peace rally in Tel Aviv just before [[Yitzhak Rabin]] was assassinated. From 1995-98, she performed many concerts in memory of Rabin.{{cn|date=June 2018}}


Israeli Public Council member       Arava institute                               <nowiki>http://arava.org/</nowiki>
In May 2002, she took part in a concert at the Rome Colosseum, under the banner of "Time for Life - A Tribute for Peace", featuring [[Ray Charles]], [[Mercedes Sosa]], [[Khaled (musician)|Khaled]], [[Nicola Piovani]], and artists from Afghanistan, Sarajevo, Belgrade, Africa and Ireland. In May 2004, she performed in '''"We Are the Future":''' a globally telecast fund raising concert for children in conflict areas. On July 2, 2005 she performed in [[Bono]] and [[Bob Geldof]]'s '''"[[Live 8]]"''' concert in Rome's [[Circo Massimo]].<ref name=bio>{{cite web|url=http://www.noasmusic.com/biography.html|title=Noa biography|website=Noasmusic.com|accessdate=November 29, 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928171913/http://www.noasmusic.com/biography.html|archivedate=September 28, 2011|deadurl=no}}</ref>
In September 2005, she performed at the ''Ambrosetti Forum'' which took place in Villa d'Este, [[Como]], Italy, in the presence of [[Shimon Peres]], [[Saeb Erekat]] and [[Amr Moussa]].
In November 2010, Nini and Mira Awad performed at the closing concert of the '''Science for Peace''' event hosted by the '''Fondazione Umberto Veronesi''' at the [[Bocconi University]] of Milan, Italy.


President                                       Capri Film Festival                        <nowiki>http://www.caprihollywood.com/</nowiki>
==FAO ambassador==
<br />
In October 2003, Nini was named [[FAO Goodwill Ambassador|Goodwill Ambassador]] of the [[Food and Agriculture Organization]] of the United Nations.


= Awards =
==Views and opinions==
{| class="wikitable"
While Nini has been criticized in Israel for her left-wing political views,<ref>[http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel/.premium-1.648270 Singer Achinoam Nini says she was threatened at airport, called 'Israel-hater'] By Yaniv Kubovich and Dafna Arad, Haaretz, Mar. 22, 2015.</ref> she has performed at Israel Independence Day celebrations in London<ref>{{cite web|title=DEATH THREATS FORCE ARAB ISRAELI EUROVISION SINGER TO CANCEL LONDON APPEARANCE AT ISRAEL INDEPENDENCE DAY SHOW|url=http://zionistfederation.blogspot.co.uk/2010/04/israel-independence-day-celebration.html|accessdate=1 May 2016}}</ref> and Vancouver.<ref>{{cite web|title=Israel to Fund Achinoam Nini’s Show in Canada After JNF Pulls Out Over BDS Claims|url=http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.705314|accessdate=29 September 2016}}</ref> She is also an outspoken opponent of the movement to boycott Israel, noting that she herself has been "a victim of its hypocritical and harmful activity." <ref>Jane Eisner, [http://forward.com/opinion/333966/why-accuse-israeli-singer-noa-of-backing-bds-when-she-rejects-it-outright/ Why Accuse Israeli Singer Noa of Backing BDS, When She Rejects It Outright?], Jewish Daily Forward, Feb. 22, 2016</ref>
|"Crystal Award" by the "[[World Economic Forum]]" in [[Davos|Davos, Switzerland]]
|1999
|-
|The first woman to receive the "Galileo Galilei" medal order from the "Grand Orient", the Italian arm of the [[Freemasonry|Freemasons]]
|2005
|-
|"Gemona Seminar" prize for artistic excellence and her contribution to peace and understanding
|2005
|-
|"Critics' Award" at the [[Sanremo Music Festival 2006|56th Sanremo Music Festival]] in Italy
|2006
|-
|Cavaliera de la republica – Knight of the Italian republic
|2008
|-
|Commendatore Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana  - Commander of the order of merit of the Italian republic
|2018
|-
|Pellegrino de Pace – Pilgrim of Peace – Assisi
|2018
|-
|Hold the keys of 30 cities throughout Europe
|
|}


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 21:10, 7 January 2019

Achinoam Nini
Noa (2012)
Noa (2012)
Background information
Birth nameAchinoam Nini
Also known asNoa
Born (1969-06-23) June 23, 1969 (age 55)
OriginTel Aviv, Israel
GenresPop, world, Hebrew, jazz, blues
OccupationSinger
Years active1990–present
LabelsNMC, Geffen Records, Universal Records
WebsiteOfficial website

With roots and upbringing spanning Yemen, Israel and the United States, Achinoam Nini aka Noa is a singer, songwriter, poet, composer and percussionist, speaker, activist and a mother of three children.

Together with her longstanding musical collaborator Gil Dor, accomplished musician and co-founder of the Rimon School of music, Noa has released 15 international albums and graced many of the world’s most important and prestigious stages like Carnegie hall and the White House, and has performed for 3 Popes. She has been mentored by Pat Metheny and Quincy Jones, and shared the stage with legends such as Stevie Wonder, Andrea Bocelli and Sting. In addition to her prolific musical activity, Noa is considered Israel’s most prominent cultural advocate of peace, her “Voice of Peace”.

Biography

Achinoam Nini (Hebrew: Template:Hebrew; Aẖinóʻam Nini; known outside Israel as Noa), was born in Bat Yam, Israel, On June 23, 1969, to a Yemenite Jewish family, and moved to New York City at the age of two.

She attended SAR Academy and Ramaz High School, remaining in New York until her return to Israel alone at the age of 16 for love.

She completed her mandatory service in the Israel Defense Forces performing with a military entertainment troupe. After her release she studied music at the Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music in Ramat Hasharon, where she met her long-time partner and collaborator Gil Dor, co-founder and academic director of the school.

Noa is married to Dr. Asher Barak (The original love for whom she returned to Israel at age 16) ,  a pediatric pulmonologist. They have three children – Ayehli, Enea and Yum.


Music career

Noa started writing poems and putting them to music at age 8. Her strongest influences come from the singer-songwriters of the 60s, like Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. These musical and lyrical sensibilities, combining traditional Yemenite music, Jazz, folk, classical and rock influences, have created Noa and Gil’s unique sound, manifested in hundreds of songs written and performed together. Noa plays percussion, guitar and piano.

During her career that spans over 28 years, Noa’s extraordinary vocal range, versatility and creativity have brought her from stadiums to clubs, arenas to underground venues, classical concert halls to experimental dives.

She has performed in Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall in New York City, Olympia in Paris, Rome's Colosseum, The Barbican in London, Zellerbach Auditorium in Berkeley, California, the Ravinia Festival in Chicago, the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, and the Stockholm Water Festival in Sweden to name a few, and has done numerous successful tours in major venues and festivals throughout Europe, North and South America, and the Far East.

Noa writes in English and Hebrew but has performed in Arabic, Italian, French, Spanish, Catalan, German, Chinese, Japanese and Portuguese.

Gil Dor

Gil Dor is Noa’ musical and artistic director as well as co-writer arranger, producer and guitarist. Born 1952 in Israel Gil Studied classical guitar, served in the Israeli Army as a musician in an entertainment unit 1971-1974, and continued his studies in the U.S.A concentrating on jazz at Berklee College in Boston and on classical theory and composition at Queens College in NY.

Upon returning to Israel in 1981 Gil established himself as a guitarist as well as an arranger/composer performing live jazz and rock and recording with leading artists in Israel. During 1983 & 1984 he taught jazz improvisation and guitar at the “Jerusalem Academy of Music”. In 1985 Gil co-founded the “Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music” in Ramat Hasharon, Israel. In his capacity as “Rimon” academic director for 5 years, Gil developed and wrote many core curriculum as well as advanced courses. He has performed in jazz festivals in Israel and Europe ith his own ensembles and together with Al DiMeola. Since 1990 he has been working exclusively with Noa.  

Duets and collaborations

Noa first international album was produced by Pat Metheny. Quincy Jones has been her mentor for almost two decades, and is the executive producer of  her recent release “Letters to Bach” . Noa has toured and sang with rock superstar Sting, performed her song “Child of man” with Stevie Wonder , and shared the stage and microphone with many great artists, including:

United states

Carlos Santana, Sheryl Crow, George Benson, Al Dimeola, Bobby McFerrin, Chick Corea, Mike Manieri, Dee Dee Bridgewater

Italy

The Solis String Quartet, Nicola Piovanni, Zucchero, , Pino Daniele, Rita Marcotulli, Massimo Ranieri, Carlo Fava, Sarda

France

Charles Aznavour ,Florent Pagny, Jean-Jacques Goldman, Lokua Kanza, Maurane, Eric Serra, Pascal Obispo, I Muvrini

Spain

Joan Manuel Serrat, Joaquin Sabina, Miguel Bose,  Jorge Drexler, Pasion Vega

Germany

Peter Maffay

The Middle East

Khaled, Mira Awad, Nabil Salameh and RadioDervish, Bustan Avraham,  and many more!

Other…

Anna Maria Jopek, Johnny Clegg , Bea Palya and Ha Hui (China)

Discography

Studio albums

·       Achinoam Nini and Gil Dor                                            (1993)

·       Noa                                                                               (1994)

·       Calling                                                                           (1996)

·       Achinoam Nini                                                               (1997)

·       Blue Touches Blue                                                         (2000)

·       Now                                                                               (2002)

·       Noapolis - Noa Sings Napoli                                          (2005)

·       Napoli-Tel Aviv                                                               (2005)

·       Genes & Jeans                                                              (2008)

·       There Must Be Another Way - with Mira Awad             (2009)        

·       The Israeli Songbook                                                     (2011)

·       Love Medicine                                                               (2015)

·       Letters to Bach                                                              (2019)

Live albums

·       Achinoam Nini and Gil Dor Live                             (1991)

·       Achinoam Nini & the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra       (1998)

·       Noa Live - DVD/Double CD with the Solis Quartet       (2005)

Compilations & other albums

·       First Collection                                                        (2001)

·       Noa Gold                                                                 (2003)

·       Classic Noa                                                              (2012)

Singing for Film and Theatre

In 1998, Noa recorded the part of Esmeralda in French for the original soundtrack of the multi-Platinum selling musical  "Notre Dame de Paris", but did not play the role on stage. Her song "Babel", written in English, French and Hebrew as theme song for the Gerard Pullicino movie of the same name, topped the charts in France the following year.

Noa collaborated with French composer Éric Serra on two songs for film:

"My Heart Calling" from the Luc Besson film "The Messenger" (The story of Joan of Arc, with Milla Jovovich)" – Noa wrote the lyrics and recorded the vocals.

“The Experience of Love" from the James Bond film “GoldenEye”, - Noa recorded vocals together with Serra.

In 2000, Noa recorded the theme song for Roberto Benigni’s award winning film "La vita è Bella",  entitled “Beautiful that way”, for which she also wrote the lyrics, In English and Hebrew, together with Gil Dor. The song was recorded and released with the album Blue Touches Blue, and also appears on the soundtrack of the DVD as well as on her album Noa Gold in two versions.

Ambassador of Peace

On Nov. 4th, 1995, Noa was on stage performing for an audience of 50,000 at the historic peace rally in Tel-Aviv just minutes before the late Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated. She was the first and only major Israeli artist who agreed to have her name posted on the billboards calling for participation in this fateful rally.

The horrible murder of Yitzhak  Rabin, which took place minutes after Noa finished her performance and embraced the prime minister, devastated Noa and changed her life. It was on that day she decided to dedicate much of her time and energy to speaking out for peace and encouraging dialogue, standing up for the underprivileged and being an active human rights advocate. She has done so ever since, as an inspiring speaker and performer, through musical collaborations, attendance at demonstrations, articles, blogs, posts and interviews, and extensive volunteer work. Noa is Israel’s most outspoken and courageous cultural advocate for peace, a true “Voice of Peace”, a role which has led her to the most wonderful, and challenging, moments of her life. Noa has raised a clear voice for peace for more than two decades, undeterred by fear, incitement against her and threats to her life.

Noa has  collaborated frequently with Arab and Palestinian artists from around the world, including Khaled , Nabil Salameh , Rim Banna,  Amal Murkus and Mira Awad.  Together with Awad, Noa represented Israel in the 2009 Eurovision song contest, singing her self-penned “There must be another way” in English Hebrew and Arabic. The performance had a huge international impact, and was covered by Al Jazeera, CNN, the BBC and the New York Times, amongst others.

Noa supports numerous organizations working for peace and dialogue in Israel. She is on the Board of The New Israel Fund, supporting hundreds of organizations working for equality and human rights in Israel, and of the Umm El Fahem art gallery, directed by her close friend Said Abu Shakra.  She is on the public board of the Polyphony Foundation in Nazareth, which educates Arabs and Jewish Israeli youth in classical music. She supports Bridge over the Wadi, an Arab-Jewish bi-lingual chain of schools throughout Israel, and Kids Creating Peace in Neve Shalom. She supports Combatants for Peace and the Parents Circle, having been one of the very few Israeli artists to agree to sing in their annual joint Jewish/Arab memorial day service.

Noa refused to receive a prestigious award when it became known that at the same ceremony, a life-time achievement award would be given to an artist who has used his art in the service of racist views and incitement against Arabs, a man who has expressed support for the murderer Baruch Goldstein (who shot Muslims in the back during prayer) and Yigal Amir, the murderer of Yitzchak Rabin. Her refusal was widely criticized by the artistic community, who sought to “separate politics from art”, but Noa remained steadfast in her belief that elevating an artist with such racist views to “cultural hero” status, as reflected by this particular award, is in effect normalizing his views and statements, and that the role of any society, and especially its artists, is to do exactly the opposite. 

In March 1999 Noa sang for President Clinton at the White House in the event held by the “Yitzhak Rabin Foundation” honoring the late Rabin’s 77th birthday. She was also invited to sing in Oslo for the anniversary of the Peace accord signed there, before an audience that included President Clinton, Ehud Barak, Yasser Arafat and the King of Norway. Noa was awarded the “Dove of Peace” by Nobel-peace prize laureate Shimon Peres, and has performed on numerous occasions for the “Peres Center for Peace”.

Noa was honored with the “Crystal Award” by the “World Economic Forum” in Davos, Switzerland, where she has performed together with Palestinian artists and participated in numerous panels dealing with peace in the Middle East and the role of art and artists in possibly bringing it about. She was also named a “Global Leader of Tomorrow”. In 2001 Noa was again invited to participate in the WEF in NY, where she had the honor of performing in a star-studded gala evening produced by Phil Ramone and Quincy Jones, featuring artists such as Bono, Peter Gabriel, Lauryn Hill, India Arie and many others. In this special concert she performed John Lennon’s immortal “Imagine” together with the Algerian singer Khaled, in Hebrew, English and Arabic. This song became an international hit.

In 2000, the Mayor of Melpignano awarded Noa and Nabil Salameh, Lebanese singer songwriter of the group “RadioDervish”, honorary citizenship for their activity for peace. Two years later year, Nabil dedicated one of the group’s albums to Noa’s son, Ayehli.

In May 2002, Noa took part in the first-ever concert at the “Rome Colosseum”, under the banner of “Time for Life- A Tribute for Peace”. The event featured Ray Charles, Mercedes Sousa, Khaled, Nicola Piovani, and various artists from Afghanistan, Sarajevo, Belgrade, Africa and Ireland. Thousands watched the concert on giant video screens.

On October16, 2003, Noa was nominated Israel’s first “Goodwill Ambassador” for FAO (the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations).

In May 2004 Noa and Mira Awad performed in “We Are the Future”: a globally telecast fund raising concert for children in conflict areas. The event, which was produced by Quincy Jones for of an audience of 350,000 in Rome’s “Circo Massimo”, and broadcast on MTV, VH1 and various other channels to millions more around the world, featured an international line-up of stars and performers such as Oprah Winfrey, Angelina Jolie, Carlos Santana, Alicia Keys, Andrea Bocelli, Herbie Hancock and many more (this performance was held during Noa’s 6th month of pregnancy!)

Noa performed in Bono and Sir Bob Geldof’s “Live 8” concert in front of hundreds of thousands of people that filled Rome’s Circo Massimo and millions of TV viewers across the world. The concert’s aim was to put pressure on the world’s leading nations to erase third world debts. The Rome line up included: Duran Duran, Faith Hill, Lorenzo (Jovanotti), Nek, Pino Daniele, Antonello Venditti, Claudio Baglioni, Tim McGraw, Velvet and many others

In June 2006, the Italian Ambassador to Israel notified Noa that the President of the Italian Republic, President Neapolitano, has decided to award her the prestigious “Stella de la Republica ”( the “Star of the Republic) with the status of “Cavalliere” (knight). in 2018, President Mattarella of Italy promoted Noa to Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, one of the highest honors Italy has to give. This happened soon after her historic performances in the Italian Parliament in December of 2017, and later in the Quirinale Palace, on the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

In December 2018 Noa became the first Israeli to recieve the prestigious “Pilgrim of Peace” title in Assisi, an award previously given to  Mikhael Gorbachov, Mother Theresa and Bill Gates.

Public Roles

Board member                              New Israel Fund                            https://www.nif.org/

Board member                              Hispano Judio fund                       https://fundacionhispanojudia.org/

Board member                              Umm El Fahem Gallery                 https://www.ummelfahemgallery.com/  

Board member                              Polyphony of Nazareth                 http://polyphonyfoundation.org/

Israeli Public Council member       Arava institute                               http://arava.org/

President                                       Capri Film Festival                        http://www.caprihollywood.com/

Awards

"Crystal Award" by the "World Economic Forum" in Davos, Switzerland 1999
The first woman to receive the "Galileo Galilei" medal order from the "Grand Orient", the Italian arm of the Freemasons 2005
"Gemona Seminar" prize for artistic excellence and her contribution to peace and understanding 2005
"Critics' Award" at the 56th Sanremo Music Festival in Italy 2006
Cavaliera de la republica – Knight of the Italian republic 2008
Commendatore Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana  - Commander of the order of merit of the Italian republic 2018
Pellegrino de Pace – Pilgrim of Peace – Assisi 2018
Hold the keys of 30 cities throughout Europe

References

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest
(with Mira Awad)
2009
Succeeded by