Pianist Dror Semmel returned to Israel after 6 years in New York where he studied at Mannes College and completed his doctorate at Stony Brook University.
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". The Majority of his recital programs contain the core of the Germanic repertoire. During the past years he has performed Beethoven's last three piano sonatas, Schubert's late sonatas and Winterreise, Bach's Goldberg Variations and Partitas as well as Schumann's main masterworks.
In recent years, he has performed regularly in Israel, USA and Europe as soloist with orchestras, solo recitals and chamber music. Recent concerts include appearances with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, the Israeli Chamber Orchestra and Orquesta de la Universidad de Alicante . He records frequently to the Kol Hamusika, Israel classical radio station. In addition, his recordings were broadcasted on WQXR in NYC.
Dror Semmel received various prizes in national and International competitions and funds, and worked extensively with great artists such as Murray Perahia, Andras Schiff, Yefim Bronfman among others. Future engagements include concerts in Israel, the US, Italy and the far east. Together with his sister, pianist Shir Semmel, he has founded the Jerusalem Piano Duo.
Dror Semmel, played his debut recital in Boston in 1997. Served in the military as a Distinguished Musician and graduated cum lauda from the Jerusalem Academy as a student of Bracha Eden and Alexander Tamir. In NY he studied with Victor Rosenbaum and Jacob Lateiner and then completed his doctorate as a student of the renowned pianist and pedagogue, Gilbert Kalish. During the years in NY he also worked with pianist Richard Goode.
Dror Semmel teaches at the Israeli Conservatory in Tel Aviv, Levinsky College, and at the Jerusalem Conservatory. His students win top prizes in competitions and perform with orchestras regularly. He is the director of the masterclasses and Young Pianists programs at the Aldwell Center and serves as a juror and on the board of the Young Artists Competition in Jerusalem. He has recently joined the faculty of the Buchman-Mehta Music School at the Tel Aviv Univeristy.
