Experience

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  Hartwell studios

  Jan 2000 - Jan 2004

  Recording engineer

  Recorded albums for local musicians such as the Outer Bridge Ensemble and Adam Weiner (Low Cut Connie)

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  Altneu arts

  Apr 2003 - now

  Educator, performer, & consultant

  Ami Yares is a New Jersey-born, Jaffa-living, world traveling folk musician with a knack for making music that moves you physically, spiritually, & politically. Influenced by the spectrum of Americana music, Ami's music reaches out to Israeli & Arab culture in a yet-to-be-named fusion of styles. His music received attention from the seminal folk music magazine Sing Out! and referred to his first album as “a multicultural sharing of sounds that pay homage to his homeland.” In the last five years, he has toured in over twenty countries teaching and performing. You can see Ami thrive off the energy of staged performance. Off stage he earnestly teaches through music, inspiring people to seek social change in life empowering ways. He tours with his brother, Gavri Tov, in the roots fusion duo, The Brothers Yares, & they will embark on their third US tour this summer. This year, Ami plans to release three recordings; a solo EP, a Brothers Yares EP, & an album sponsored by the conflict transformation NGO, Seeds of Peace, that features musicians from Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Gaza, & the United States. No matter the day, you'll most likely find Ami with guitar in hand with a joyous grin celebrating the beauty of merging life & music. Show less

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  Riverview school

  Sept 2003 - Jul 2005

  Special education teacher

  Taught 9-12 grade general studies. Built music curriculum for 8-12 grade based on principles of Ethnomusicology.

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  The shuk

  Aug 2008 - Jun 2012

  Director of programming and education

  Led international touring ensemble of musicians and teaching artists. Fostered values of pluralism and self-actualization in Jewish communities.

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  Heartbeat: the palestinian and israeli youth music project

  Nov 2009 - Jun 2015

  Co-program director

  Co-established Heartbeat as a predominant music and peace-building institution. Built three programs for youth in Jerusalem, Haifa and Jaffa based in dialogue, songwriting, peace-building and non-violent communication. Mentored underserved Arab and Jewish youth. Promoted and marketed group in Israeli & European markets. Managed international touring group in Europe and the US. Now serving as Global Ambassador, a representative of Heartbeat in the US and internationally.

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  United states embassy tel aviv

  Sept 2012 - Dec 2013

  Office of public affairs grant recipient: musical residency

  I am the facilitator and main artist presenting and performing programs about American culture and how music influences and is influenced by societal happenings. The audience for these programs is Arab and Jewish students from all over Israel.

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  School of social policy & practice at the university of pennsylvania

  Sept 2016 - Jun 2017

  Masters of science in social policy

  Studying to combine grassroots social change with systemic change via social policy creation and analysis. Focusing on arts-access and promoting equity for underserved and marginalized communities in Philadelphia.

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  Buildabridge international

  Nov 2017 - now

  Executive director

  Engaging creative people and the transformative power of art making to bring hope and healing to children, families, and communities in the contexts of crisis and poverty.