The Abu-Gosh Festival, which will take place May 30 – June 6, is the leading and most important festival in the Israeli vocal music scene and is in fact the oldest vocal festival. The Festival, held in the town of Abu Gosh just outside Jerusalem in the Judean hills, has existed in its present format since 1992, and it takes place twice a year – on the Jewish festivals of Sukkot (October) and Shavuot (June), lasting between three to five days each time. This will be the 51st festival.

This year the festival features a wide variety of performances from classical to jazz. The main guest at the festival this year is the University of Delaware Choir, conducted by Paul D. Head. This is a university choir which has recorded and played with great success in concerts around the world including at Carnegie Hall in New York. The choir will perform two programs: the first will combine classical music, African music and spirituals and will include percussionist Chen Zimbalista. The second program will include jazz favorite songs and spiritual music. Other key guests are Portuguese singer Sofia Pedro, and Ricardo Rapoport – bassoon and Brazilian cavaquinho player who will be joining the HaGalil Ha-Elion Choir directed by Ron Zarhi and the Phoenix Ensemble.

The Festival's concerts are performed in two churches: there will be six concerts in the Crusader-Benedictine Church, built in the 12th century, situated in the heart of the village; and there will be ten concerts in the Kiryat Ye'arim Church, situated at the top of the hill, overlooking Abu-Gosh. Among the concerts are “Jazz and Classic Meet in Abu Gosh” with the Yaron Gottfried Trio and Moran Vocal Octet, “I Love Bach the Most”, “A Brazilian Requiem for a Portuguese Queen” as well as “Halleluhah - Leonard in America” that will cover the music of Leonard Bernstein and Leonard Cohen. In addition, there will also be a “Back and Beatles” concert with the Vocal Octet.