[2] Avital was born in the Israeli city of Be'er Sheva and showed an aptitude for the mandolin at an early age; by the time he was eight years old, he was performing with a local orchestra.

Largely dormant as a group since the 1920s, talented players are again getting attention for doing new things with the mandolin, including Italians Carlo Aonzo and Mauro Squillante, Americans Chris Thile, Joseph Brent and Mike Marshall, and Israelis Avi Avital, Tom Cohen, Jacob Reuven and Alon Sariel.

[6] Avital's path to success didn't simply involve digging into the archive of music historically played on the mandolin.

[5] Aware of his role in bringing the mandolin into the concert hall, he realized that adding to the "quality repertoire" of the instrument is important for its future.

[6] He also specifically targets the perception that the instrument is limited by taking on "monumental works" of "sacred" composers such as Bach to change the outlook.