Dr. Dror Semmel, piano
Israeli pianist Dror Semmel has been performing in Israel, Europe, Asia and North America as soloist with orchestras, in recitals and chamber music concerts. His performances are regarded as of the highest caliber of artistry and sensitivity. Often described as a "true follower of the Schnabel tradition", his interpretations of Germanic repertoire were praised as "extremely well thought, genuine and insightful". During the past years he has performed Beethoven's late sonatas, Schubert's late sonatas and Winterreise, Bach's Goldberg Variations and Partitas; Brahms' complete chamber music, as well as Schumann's main masterworks. Recent concerts include appearances with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and the Israeli Chamber Orchestra. He records frequently to Kan Kol Hamusika, Israel classical radio station. In addition, his recordings were broadcasted on WQXR in NYC.
As a keen chamber musician, Dror Semmel has been collaborating with the leading artists in Israel and performed in the main venues and series. Together with his sister Shir Semmel, he has founded the Jerusalem Piano Duo, and played extensively in Israel and the US.
Dror Semmel began playing on period instruments, and especially on a Graf fortepiano, which he was responsible for bringing to the Eden Tamir Center in Jerusalem. It is the first and only Graf in Israel.
Moreover, Dror Semmel has taught at MusicFest Perugia and at the Tel-Hai International Piano Master Classes. He has been invited to give masterclasses at top universities in Europe and the USA. Most recently he gave masterclasses at Mannes in NYC and Seoul National University in South Korea. Next season he will teach masterclass in Europe the US.
Dror Semmel, graduated from the Jerusalem Academy as a student of Bracha Eden and Alexander Tamir. In NY he studied with Victor Rosenbaum at Mannes College, and completed his doctorate as a student of Gilbert Kalish at Stony Brook University. During the years in NY, he also worked with pianist Richard Goode.
Dror Semmel is on the faculty at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music at the Tel Aviv University, where he teaches piano, chamber music, as well as advanced analysis for graduate students. He also teaches at the Israeli Conservatory in Tel Aviv. He formerly taught at the Levinsky College and at the Jerusalem Conservatory, where he served as the head of piano department.
His students regularly win top prizes in competitions and perform with orchestras in Israel and abroad.
Dror Semmel is the artistic director of the Eden Tamir Music Center in Ein Kerem, Jerusalem, and the artistic director of Kan Voice of Music Young Artists Competition. Together with Mrs. Lea Agmon, he is the co-director of the Edward Aldwell Institute in Jerusalem.
