Yaron Kohlberg, Piano

Biography

Yaron Kohlberg, born in Jerusalem in 1983, is one of Israel's leading young pianists. He is the winner of prestigious international prizes and performs regularly in Israel and abroad to critical acclaim.

Kohlberg is winner of the second prize in the 2007 Cleveland International Piano Competition, where he performed in the final round with the Cleveland Orchestra. Kohlberg has also won first prizes in the Parnassos International Competition in Monterrey (Mexico) and the Shostakovich International Competition in Hanover, and was a top prizewinner in other international competitions such as Andorra, Tivoli (Copenhagen) and Grieg (Oslo). In Israel he won the first prizes in the Clairmont competition, the Young Artist competition and the piano competition of the Jerusalem Music Academy. He has received many additional awards, including the Colton Scholarship of Tel Aviv University and a citation as the outstanding participant at the Tel- Hai Masterclasses. From 1992 he has been a regular recipient of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation scholarships (with distinction).

Centers at which he appeared in recitals and concerts include famous halls such as the Kremlin in Moscow, Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., the Beethovenhalle in Bonn, Severance Hall in Cleveland, Salle Cortot and Les Invalides in Paris, the United Nations hall in Geneva, Bellas Artes in Mexico City and the New Opera House in Oslo. In 2010 he is scheduled to play numerous concerts in the US, Europe and Asia.

Kohlberg appeared as soloist with the Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra, the Strings Festival Orchestra (Colorado), Amadeus Orchestra (Mexico) and with most leading Israeli orchestras, including the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Jerusalem and Haifa Symphony Orchestras and the Tel Aviv Soloists Ensemble. He played under the baton of Andres Cardenes, Aldo Ceccatto, Dmitri Jablonsky, Roman Kofman, Jahja Ling, Mendi Rodan, Ilan Volkov and others. Kohlberg performs regularly with Bishara Harouny in an Israeli-Arab piano duo , with the American Duo Parnas and with Danish cellist Toke Moldrup. He has collaborated with leading Israeli chamber music groups such as the Ariel Quartet, Percadu, the Quartet for Contemporary Music and the Carmel Quartet. Kohlberg is a frequent performer in major Israeli concert series, and has played in the Israeli Parliament ("Knesset") and the official residence of the President.

Kohlberg's teachers are Luisa Yoffe (1990-1999), Eitan Globerson (until 2003) and at present Arie Vardi. He completed his military service in the status of Outstanding Musician, and is now studying for a master's degree at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music. Masterclasses in which he took part were given by top musicians. Kohlberg also participated in various television programs and recorded for the Voice of Music radio station. He has served on the jury of national piano competitions in Israel and Mexico.