The Ankor Choir was founded in 1983 and consists of 45 children aged 11-18. Its repertoire ranges from the Renaissance to contemporary works, with an emphasis on Israeli music. The Ankor Choir has appeared in Israel and abroad a-cappella and with most Israeli orchestras, including the Israel Philharmonic, under the baton of Kurt Masur, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Zubin Mehta and others. Among others, the choir has performed with the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Claudio Abbado, as well as before President Clinton, President Bush, Prince Philip and prime ministers Blair and Brown of the UK, and popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, as the resident choir of Yad VaShem. The Ankor Choir has won prizes in international competitions, including the gold medal of World Choir Games in the USA (2012). It has also taken part in many recordings and has released four CDs.

Dafna Ben-Yohanan was born in Israel and studied music theory, conducting and composition at the Jerusalem Rubin Academy of Music and Dance. She specialized in choral conducting with Aharon Harlap and in voice training with Bibiana Goldental. In 1986 she joined the Ankor Choir as Assistant Conductor and voice teacher. In 1990 she became the Choir’s Conductor and Artistic Director.