Role

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Composer  

Period

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Romantic

 

 

Modern

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Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

Ittai Shapira is a renowned classical music artist who has made a name for himself as a violinist, conductor, and educator. Born in Jerusalem, Israel in 1975, Shapira began playing the violin at the age of six. He showed exceptional talent from an early age and was soon recognized as a prodigy. He received his first violin lessons from his father, who was also a violinist. Shapira's talent was further nurtured by his mother, who was a pianist. She encouraged him to pursue his passion for music and provided him with opportunities to perform in public. Shapira's parents recognized his potential and made sure that he received the best possible training. He studied with some of the most renowned violin teachers in Israel, including Ilona Feher and Yair Kless. At the age of 14, Shapira was invited to perform with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Zubin Mehta. This was a major breakthrough for the young musician, and it marked the beginning of his career as a professional violinist. Shapira continued to perform with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra on several occasions, and he also appeared as a soloist with other major orchestras around the world. Shapira's talent and dedication to music earned him several awards and accolades. In 1993, he won first prize at the Claremont Young Musicians Competition in California. He was also a prize winner at the International Violin Competition in Indianapolis in 1994. In 1995, he was awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, which is given to outstanding young musicians who show exceptional promise. Shapira's career as a soloist continued to flourish, and he performed with some of the most renowned orchestras in the world, including the New York Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic. He also collaborated with some of the most distinguished conductors, such as Daniel Barenboim, Lorin Maazel, and Christoph von Dohnányi. In addition to his career as a soloist, Shapira also established himself as a conductor. He studied conducting with Daniel Barenboim and was appointed as the assistant conductor of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, which was founded by Barenboim and the late Palestinian intellectual Edward Said. Shapira also conducted several major orchestras, including the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana. Shapira's passion for music extended beyond his career as a performer and conductor. He was also committed to music education and worked tirelessly to promote music education among young people. He founded the Ilona Feher Foundation, which is dedicated to promoting music education in Israel. He also established the Ittai Shapira Violin Masterclasses, which provide young musicians with the opportunity to study with some of the most renowned violinists in the world. Shapira's dedication to music and his contributions to the world of classical music have earned him several awards and honors. In 2008, he was awarded the prestigious Israel Prize for his contribution to Israeli music. He was also awarded the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government in 2011. Today, Shapira continues to perform as a soloist and conductor and is highly regarded in the world of classical music. He is also committed to promoting music education and is actively involved in several music education initiatives.

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