Members of the "Givatron" singing group gathered on Sunday at Kibbutz Geva dining hall to be informed they were selected as recipients of the prestigious Israel Prize.

The group, founded 59 years ago, gained fame singing Hebrew songs heavily influenced by East European folk music sounds and strongly associated with the early Zionist movement. They were selected because of their special contribution to Israeli culture.

Far from being surprised by the news, some of the veteran singers expressed their dissapointment for not being given the award earlier.

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"Each year we were disappointed and this year we finally got the prize," one of the group's original members, 77-year-old Nika Barzak, said.

The group was formed in 1948 and immediately became a major icon of Israeli culture. It appeared at many state functions and gave free performances for Israel Defense Forces troops and hospitals.

Despite their rigorous touring schedule, all members continued to work full-time as communal kibbutz laborers.

"In a world dominated by fads," Israel Prize judges wrote in their decision to award them the prize: "The band and their repertoire have been for a long time a unique and significant phenomenon to their young listeners, as well as previous generations. A thousand singing groups and bands followed in its tracks and have enriched Israeli culture - its heritage," they wrote.