Eliran Avni
499 Fort Washington #4F
EDUCATION
AND
TRAINING
www.EliranAvni.com
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New York, NY 10033
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Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance
917 572 3928
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avnieliran@hotmail.com
The Juilliard School, New York, NY
Dissertation: “The Musician’s
Challenge: Merging Structure and
Emotion in Music.”
2007
Carl Schachter, advisor
Full Scholarship recipient as C.V. Starr
Fellow
Master of Music in Piano Performance
2000
The Juilliard School, New York, NY
Full Scholarship recipient
Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance
1998
The Juilliard School, New York, NY
Full Scholarship recipient
PRINCIPLE TEACHERS:
The Juilliard School
Yoheved Kaplinsky
1994-2004
Jerome Lowenthal
2002-2004
Jonathan Feldman
1998-2003
Israel/Tel-Aviv Academy
Marina Bondarenko
1986-1993
Zvi Harel
1988-1993
Yahli Wagman
1988-1993
Victor Derevianko
1988-1993
COACHES
Dmitry Bashkirov
Yefim Bronfman
Colin Carr
John Corgiliano
Maria Curcio
Eugene Drucker
Alan Feinberg
Asher Fisch
Pamela Frank
Peter Furtwangler
Felix Galamir
Laura Gilbert
Josef Kalichstein
Gilbert Kalish
Jacob Latiner
Robert Levin
Yo-Yo Ma
Zubin Mehta
Henri Meyer
Charles Neidich
Itzhak Perlman
Victor Rosenbaum
Paul Schenly
Philip Setzer
Isaac Stern
Emma Tahmizian
Mitzuko Uschida
Tabea Zimerman
Pinchas Zukerman
Hand Therapy and Taubman Technique
 Studied the Dorothy Taubman technique with Dr. Yoheved Kaplinsky at The
Juilliard School and taught as Dr. Kaplinsky’s teaching assistant at both The
Juilliard School and at the Bowdoin Summer Festival. Specialized in treating
injured pianists as well as other instrumentalists.
Eliran Avni, Curriculum Vitae
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Arts and Education
 A graduate of the Arts and Education program at The Juilliard School. This
program teaches performers specific techniques to help engage non-music majors
and general audiences in classical music performances.
Conductor
 Brief training in conducting at The Juilliard School. Conducted from the keyboard
the premiere of The Monkey King, a chamber music play.
PERFORMANCE
EXPERIENCE
CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS
The Oakland East Bay Symphony, San Francisco, CA
Performance of Grieg’s Piano Concerto. Michael Morgan, Conductor.
The Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham, AL
Performance of Rachmaninoff’s 3rd Piano Concerto. Mei-Ann Chen, Conductor.
The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Carnegie Hall, New York, NY
US premiere of A. Dorman’s Azerbaijani Dance. Zubin Mehta, Conductor.
The Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham, AL
Solo performance of Dorman’s Sonata No. 3.
East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, PA
Performance of Rachmaninoff’s 3rd Piano Concerto.
Xavier University Classical Piano Series, Cincinnati, OH
Solo Recital with Richard Lissemore, Narrator. Works by Bartok, Scriabin and A. Dorman.
Merkin Hall, New York, NY
Solo Recital with Richard Lissemore, Narrator. Works by Bartok, Scriabin, Stravinsky and a world
premiere “For Jenny” by A. Dorman.
Pick-Staiger Hall, Chicago, IL
Guest artist w. the Chicago Chamber Musicians. US Premiere of “Jerusalem Mix” by A. Dorman.
Teatro Principal del Centro Cultural, Laredo, Mexico
Joint Recital with pianists Alejandro Vela and Katia Kravitz. Works by Schubert and Stravinsky.
San Diego Jewish Music Festival, San Diego, CA
Joint Recital with Clarinetist Moran Katz and Mandolin player Avi Avital.
The Israel Chamber Music Orchestra Festival, Eilat, Israel
Performance of Shostakovich’s and Brahms’s Piano Trios as well as Dvorak’s Piano Quintet.
The Metropolis Ensemble, New York, NY
Concerto performance. U.S premiere of A. Dorman’s Piano Concerto in A.
National Arts Club, New York, NY
Duo Piano. Performed Rachmaninoff’s Suite No. 2 with Steven Beck.
Haifa Symphony, Haifa, Israel
Performance of A. Dorman Concerto in A.
Columbia University, New York, NY
Solo Recital. Performed works by Schumann, Mendelssohn and Dorman.
Geffen Trio Concert Tour, US and Israel
Works by Mendelssohn, Shostakovich and Piazzolla. Live recording on Israeli radio.
Berkshire Theatre Festival, Lenox, MA
Solo Recital. Works by Schumann and Dorman.
CD Launch Concert, The Kosciuszko Foundation, New York, NY
The piano works of Avner Dorman. Released on Naxos.
The Greater Princeton Steinway Society, Lawrenceville, NJ
Solo Recital. Works by Brahms and Rachmaninoff.
Eliran Avni, Curriculum Vitae
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The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington, MA
World premiere of Matthew Guerrier’s Monkey King. Served as conductor and pianist.
The Juilliard School, New York, NY
The piano works of Avner Dorman. World premiere of the revised First Sonata.
Las Gallas Festival, Piedras Negras, Mexico
Guest artist. Solo Recital.
The Kerr Center, Phoenix, AZ
Chamber music concert with cellist Yehuda Hanani
Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, New York, NY
Violin and Piano duo recital. World Premiere of A. Dorman’s 1st Violin Sonata.
Close Encounters With Music Concert Series:
Performances at Broward Center, FL, Kerr Center, AZ, and The Berkshires, MA.
Ozawa Hall, Lenox, MA
Chamber music concert.
St. Cecilia Music Society, Grand Rapids, MI
Violin and piano duo recital.
The Rock Hotel Pianofest, New York, NY
World premiere of Kenya Tillery Piano Work.
MDA Benefit Concert, Washington DC
Chamber music concert with mezzo Lucille Beer and cellist Yehuda Hanani..
The Jerusalem Music Center, Jerusalem, Israel
Live broadcast of solo recital.
Les Jeunesses Musicales du Canada, Montréal, Canada
The Santa Barbara Piano Quartet debut concert.
The Fleck Foundation, Toronto, Canada
Chamber music concert.
The Ray Winn Foundation, Santa Barbara, CA
Solo piano recital, recorded for commercial release.
The Brahms and Hindemith Festivals, Germany
Special guest artist. Solo and chamber performances with the M.A.D Piano Trio.
The Mann Auditorium, Tel Aviv, Israel
Performed with The Israel Philharmonic under Maestro Zubin Mehta on national Israeli TV.
SHUFFLE Concert Highlights 2010-13:
Sunderman Conservatory, Gettysburg College, PA
Merkin Hall, New York, NY
The Herzelia Performing Arts Center, Herzelia, Israel
Brite Conference, Columbia University, New York, NY
The Felicja Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
SFJCC, San Francisco, CA
Redmond, Roseburg & the Dalles, Oregon
L’Ermitage Concert Series, Los Angeles, CA
Molloy College, New York, NY
The Rose Studio at Lincoln Center, New York, NY
The Duplex, New York, NY
The Simon Family JCC, Virginia Beach, VA
Baruch Performing Arts Center, New York, NY
American Irish Historical Society, New York, NY
Lenox Athenaeum, Lenox, MA
Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, New York, NY
Eliran Avni, Curriculum Vitae
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Kosciuszko Foundation, New York, NY
East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, PA
Tel Aviv Museum, Tel Aviv, Israel
COLLABORATORS
Conductors
Mei-Ann Chen
Andrew Cyr
Ze’ev Dorman
Zubin Mehta
Michael Morgan
Instrumentalists
Hassan Anderson
Avi Avital
Lauren Basney
Steven Beck
Yehonatan Berick
Angelia Cho
Mirijam Contzen
Francisco Fullana
Instrumentalists Cont.
Roni Gal-Ed
Jonathan Gandelsman
Yehuda Hanani
Ori Kam
Sharon Kam
Linor Katz
Moran Katz
Mindy Kaufman
Anat Malkin
David McCarroll
Daniel Müller-Schott
Jessica Pearlman
Axel Strauss
Arnauld Sussman
Terrence Wilson
Singers
Jennifer Aylmer
Lucille Beer
Ariadne Greif
Amy Justman
Richard Lalli
Richard Lissemore
Patricia Prunty
William Sharp
Actors
Richard Chamberlain
Sam Waterston
Sigourney Weaver
PROFESSIONAL ENSEMBLES
SHUFFLE Concert, Mixed Chamber Ensemble
The New York Piano Trio
The Latett Duo, Violin and Piano Duo
The Santa Barbara Piano Quartet
The M.A.D Piano Trio
RECORDINGS
SHUFFLE Concert Album
Debut recording. Includes world premieres by A. Dorman and J. Keren.
SHUFFLE Concert @ Merkin Hall
Live recording at Merkin Hall. Broadcasted on WQXR.
The Chamber Music Works of Andy Laster, Tzadik
Performance of Flagella for mixed ensemble.
The Complete Chamber Concerti of Avner Dorman, Naxos
Performances of Piano Concerto in A and piano part in the Piccolo Concerto.
Recorded at CUNY Purchase, NY produced by Grammy Award Winner David Frost.
Eliran Avni plays the complete piano works of Avner Dorman, Naxos
Recorded at Ozawa Hall. Produced by Grammy-award-winner David Frost.
Eliran Avni, Solo
Live recording of solo piano recital at The Juilliard School.
The Maya Project, a children’s CD
Schubert’s Hungarian Melody, PBS
Solo Piano Recital for the Israel Broadcasting System
Santa Barbara Piano Quartet, Montreal Debut Concert
Solo Piano Recital for The Ray Winn Foundation
Eliran Avni, Curriculum Vitae
2013
2012
2011
Released 2010
Released May
2006
2004
2002
2001
2001
2001
2000
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TEACHING
EXPERIENCE
Brahms’ Trios Op. 87 and Op. 101 and Prokofiev’s Piano Sonata No. 6,
for the German Broadcasting System
1995
Eliran Avni Private Studio, New York, NY
Piano Teacher
 Teach young professionals and prepare students for college and
graduate school auditions.
2000-
Lucy Moses School of Music, New York, NY
Piano Faculty
 Private Studio. Teach private piano and chamber music to adults and
young people
 Analysis Class for Performers. Teaching structural analysis and original
method: Emotional Understanding of Music. The method is designed to
help performers uncover the emotional content of a piece of music by
conducting structural analysis and examining the connotations and
associations the music arouses.
 Music Appreciation Class. Introducing students to some of the
masterpieces of the western music tradition; from Bach’s Brandenburg
Concerti to Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd.
2006-
The Special Music School, New York, NY
Chamber Music Faculty
 Teach weekly chamber music coachings.
 Serve as jury member.
2005-2007
New York Youth Symphony Chamber Music Program, New York, NY
Lecturer and Chamber Music Coach
 Lecture extensively on the topics of structure and emotion in music and
score analysis for performers.
 Coach chamber music ensembles.
 Conduct performance comparison workshops.
2002-
Third Street Music Settlement, New York, NY
Piano Faculty
 Private piano lessons.
2004-2006
The Juilliard School, Pre-College, New York, NY
Assistant, Piano Faculty
 Taught Dr. Yoheved Kaplinsky’s Pre-College studio including private
lessons and a weekly studio class.
1998-2000
Bowdoin Summer Music Festival, Bowdoin, MA
Assistant Piano Faculty
 Served as Dr. Yoheved Kaplinsky’s assistant.
 Taught the Natural Hand Technique to pianists suffering from hand
injuries.
1996-1999
Eliran Avni, Curriculum Vitae
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ADDITIONAL
PROFESSIONAL
EXPEIRENCE
The Juilliard School, New York, NY
Piano minor Department
 Taught piano technique and repertoire to non-piano majors.
1998-2000
The Tel Aviv Conservatory, The Jerusalem University, The Long Island Piano
Teachers Assoc. Co. Guest Lecturer with Dr. Einat Fabrikant
 Presented the lecture: “Tools of Expression, a guide to the methods of
Emotional Understanding and the Natural Hand Technique.”
2002
Creative Director
Creative director and pianist for SHUFFLE Concert; a mixed chamber music
ensemble:
 Developed the SHUFFLE Concert concept
 Created the SHUFFLE Concert menu
 Managed ensemble relations and travel
 Raised funds
 Accounted for all expenses and payroll
 Developed a PR strategy
 Auditioned and rehearsed talent
 Produced ensemble’s first album
 Obtained management representation
 Commissioned new works
Lecturer
Lectured on the following subjects:
 On the Emotional Understanding of Music Method, dissertation topic.
The method is designed to help performers uncover the emotional
content of a piece of music by conducting structural analysis and
examining the connotations and associations the music arouses.
 On structural analysis for performers.
 On the Natural Hand Technique. Based on principles of the Taubman
Method.
HONORS and
AWARDS
PROFESSIONAL
AFFILIATIONS
Juilliard C.V. Starr Fellowship
The Claremont Competition
Rachmaninoff Competition
Israel-America Cultural
Foundation
The Juilliard School
First Prize
First Prize
Scholarship recipient (1989-2000)
Full Scholarship BM, MM and DMA
Naxos
Schirmer
The Juilliard School
SHUFFLE Concert
The Kaufman Center
Lucy Moses School
New York Chamber Music Program
Eliran Avni, Curriculum Vitae
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AVAILABLE
ONLINE
AVAILABLE
UPON REQUEST
Recording Samples
Complete Thesis: “The Musician’s Challenge: Merging Structure and Emotion in Performance”
Article: “Can A Pianist Coach Dance?”
Students Recommendations
Photo Gallery
Download versions of: CV, Press Kit and Teaching Philosophy in Word or PDF formats
References
Repertoire list
Transcripts
Recordings
For more information please visit:
www.EliranAvni.com &
www.SHUFFLEconcert.com
Eliran Avni, Curriculum Vitae
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II. BIOGRAPHY
Hailed as “The new hope of Israeli music” by Ma’ariv and described as possessing both “ironclad
technique” and “ample suppleness” by the New York Times, Eliran Avni is an emerging force in
the contemporary classical music scene. Having made his debut with the Israel Philharmonic
Orchestra under the baton of Zubin Mehta at age seventeen, Mr. Avni has appeared as a soloist
and chamber collaborator throughout Europe, North and South America, as well as in his native
Israel and has made numerous recordings for the Naxos label and the Israeli and German
broadcasting systems. A charismatic lecturer and teacher, Mr. Avni has given master classes and
lectures on the connection between music and the emotions in the US and Israel and has taught at
prestigious institutions such as The Juilliard School and the Bowdoin Summer Music Festival.
Mr. Avni began his musical training at the Tel Aviv Academy studying with Marina Bondarenko.
He soon developed a strong affinity for chamber music and worked with leading musicians such
as Yo Yo Ma, Isaac Stern, and Yefim Bronfman. At age sixteen he won first prize in both the
Clairmont and Rachmaninoff Competitions and was an annual scholarship recipient from the
Israel-America Cultural Foundation from 1989-2000.
A frequent collaborator, Mr. Avni has worked with renowned musicians such as Yehonatan
Berick, Daniel Müller-Schott, Yehuda Hanani, Terrence Wilson, Jennifer Aylmer, William Sharp,
the Chicago Chamber Music Players, actors Sigourney Weaver and Richard Chamberlain, as well
as in performances of Schumann’s Symphonic Etudes with dancer Laura Careless.
Mr. Avni received both his BM and MM degrees while studying with Dr. Yoheved Kaplinsky at
The Juilliard School and completed his DMA degree as a student of both Dr. Kaplinsky and
Jerome Lowenthal. His dissertation: “The Musician’s Challenge: Merging Emotion and Structure
in Performance”, written under the advisement of Dr. Carl Schachter, presents an original
methodology designed to assist musicians in uncovering and understanding the emotional
content of musical works.
A preeminent interpreter of the music of American-Israeli composer Avner Dorman, Mr. Avni
has been privileged to record two CDs of Dorman’s music. The first, The Piano Works of Avner
Dorman, was recorded at Tanglewood’s Ozawa’s Hall in 2006, was produced by Grammy winner
Eliran Avni, Curriculum Vitae
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David Frost and was released on the Naxos label. The second CD, of Dorman’s Chamber
Concerti with the Metropolis Ensemble and Maestro Andrew Cyr, was released in 2010, also on
Naxos.
Mr. Avni is also the Creative Director of SHUFFLE Concert, an original performance concept
which allows the audience to select the music performed in a concert.
A mixed-chamber
ensemble of 6 virtuoso musicians, SHUFFLE Concert offers a rich selection of more than 40 pieces
in 15 different musical styles. Since its inception in February 2010, SHUFFLE Concert has been in
high-demand, and has performed at the Rose Studio at Lincoln Center, Weill Recital Hall at
Carnegie Hall, the Kosciuszko Foundation, to name a few. The ensemble’s debut album will be
released in October 2013.
Recent performances for Mr. Avni include a performance with the Israel Philharmonic and Zubin
Mehta at Carnegie Hall of Dorman’s orchestrated piano work Azerbaijani Dance, a SHUFFLE
Concert tour to Israel in June 2012 and the West Coast is April 2013, a debut performance with
the Alabama Symphony of Rachmaninoff’s 3rd Piano Concerto in February 2012 and a debut
performance with the Oakland East Bay Symphony in April 2013.
Presently, Mr. Avni is dividing his time between performing solo and chamber concerts, leading
SHUFFLE Concert, conducting workshops and master classes on the subject of emotional
understanding of music and teaching at both The Lucy Moses School and The New York Youth
Symphony Chamber Music Program.
III. TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
I believe that the values and principals one holds in life are mirrored in one's teaching. So for me, being a
good teacher begins with being a good person. Truthfulness, humility, optimism, patience and respect
are of critical importance for a fine teacher in the performing arts. And being open to the ideas of
colleagues and students is equally important as the ability to challenge. I believe in being supportive of
the talent of others and in teaching students to have the courage to be unique. When teaching music, and
particularly piano, I aim to give my students a strong foundation in structural analysis, mastery of
technique and sophisticated tools to communicate musical emotion and drama. I believe that all three
aspects; structure, technique and emotion must be present in one’s playing in order to guarantee a
successful performance.
Eliran Avni, Curriculum Vitae
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Structure
I adhere to the philosophy that rather than try and teach a student what a piece “should sound like”, it is
important to give the student the tools to create an intelligent interpretation. I do so by teaching the
following principals:

How to recognize and evaluate the overall structure of the piece and understand it in the context
of the period (i.e. sonata form in the classical, romantic, impressionistic periods, etc.)

How to conduct meaningful phrase analysis by examining harmonic progressions and the
harmonic rhythm as well as melodic tension and rhythmic patterns in the phrase.

How to consider the stylistic principals of the period and the important influences on the
composer (i.e. Baroque music practices or the influence of Mozart’s operas on his instrumental
writing.)

How to identify the structural boundaries of the piece (i.e. tempi ranges and dynamic and
articulation levels.)
Technique
The importance of possessing a solid technique cannot be stressed enough. It is needed to create a
successful interpretation and, as my encounters with injured pianists have proven, to avoid injury and to
insure a healthy, long career in music.
I teach my own adaptation of Dorothy Taubman’s Technique which I call The Natural Hand Technique.
It is based of five working frames:
1. Elbow motion
2. Use of rotation
3. Solid and open fingers
4. Release of notes
5. Entry angle into the key
The Natural Hand Technique is based on the natural position of the hands and shows how one can
overcome difficult passages and/or avoid potential injury by learning how to properly manipulate the
hands. All five frames are intertwined and it is important to understand them in relationship to one
another.
As a helpful addition, I encourage my students to become familiar with Feldenkreis and
Alexander Techniques.
Eliran Avni, Curriculum Vitae
10
Emotion
The communication of emotion, or human drama, is at the basis of what we do. In order to assist with
the challenge of communicating emotion in music, I designed the Emotional Understanding Method (my
dissertation topic written under the advisement of Dr. Carl Schachter) and which includes the following
steps:

Finding the overall definition and the general emotions expressed in the piece.

Investigating the different emotional states, the shifts and type of shifts between those states, as
well as their boundaries.

Teaching the performer how to connect with the emotions in the piece by using visual scenarios
and images.
I encourage my students to record themselves in order to assess whether or not an interpretation is
convincing and continuously emphasize the difference between communicating the emotion in the piece
and one’s own feelings at the moment.
In general, I encourage my students to become familiar with the vast repertoire of Western classical music
beyond piano repertoire, as well as with chamber music, symphonic and operatic works. As a lover of
both chamber and vocal music, I have found that one really learns most about music when one is
working with other musicians and when one is singing. I also believe in encouraging my students to
enter competitions, festivals and master classes and become active members in the classical music
community.
My goals as a teacher are to help students reach their highest potential and to unleash their talents. I do
that by establishing expectations from the beginning by providing a balance between being supportive
and challenging, while remaining open to students needs.
My personal goals are to develop my studio of talented performers, continue performing, learn new
repertoire and complete my arrangements of Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd and Stravinsky’s Pulcinella for
solo piano. I’m in constant search for great contemporary music and am hoping to eventually turn my
dissertation into a book.
Eliran Avni, Curriculum Vitae
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IV. SAMPLE RECITAL PROGRAMS AND SELECTED REPERTOIRE
All programs include a short introduction discussing the works performed.
Program A
Dorman
Scriabin
Bartok
-Dorman
Stravinsky
Sonata No. 3, “Dance Suite”
Three Mazurkas Op. 3
Sonata for Solo Piano
For Jenny
Three Movements from “Petroushka”
Program B
Mozart
Schumann
Dorman
-Prokofiev
Program C
Sonata in C major K. 330
Sonata in G minor Op. 22
Azerbaijani Dance
Sonata No. 6 in A minor
Scarlatti
Schumann
-Ravel
Sondhaim
Three Sonatas
Symphonic Etudes Op. 13
Tombeau de Couperin
Sweeney Tod Suite (Arr. Avni)
Selected Repertoire
Concerti:
Solo:
Bach
Concerto in D minor
Dorman
Concerto in A major
Grieg
No. 1
Liszt
No. 1
Mozart
No. 23, K. 488
Prokofiev
No. 3
Rachmaninoff
Nos. 1, 2, 3
Shostakovich
No. 1
Tchaikovsky
No. 1
Bartok
Sonata
Beethoven
Op. 10 No. 2, Op. 57, Op. 101, Op. 111
Berg
Sonata Op. 1
Brahms
Op. 117, Op. 118, Op. 119
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Chopin
Mazurkas Op. 17, Ballade No. 3
Debussy
L’Isle Joyeuse
Dorman
Sonatas Nos. 1, 2, 3, Azerbaijani Dance,
Moments Musicaux. For Jenny
Liszt
Sonata in B minor
Mozart
Sonata in C major, K. 330
Prokofiev
Sonata No. 6
10 Pieces from “Romeo and Juliet”
Rachmaninoff
Etude-Tableaux Op. 39
Ravel
Le Tombeau de Couperin
Scarlatti
Selected Keyboard Sonatas
Schumann
Sonata Op. 22, Kreisleriana Op. 16,
Symphonic Etudes Op. 13
Chamber:
Scriabin
Mazurkas
Stravinsky
Three Movements from “Petrouchka”
Beethoven
Cello sonata Op. 5 No. 2 & Op. 69
Violin Sonata Op.47
Trio Op. 1 No. 3
Brahms
Quintet Op. 34
Quartet Op. 60
Trio Op. 8, 87, 101, 114 & Op. Post.
Clarinet Sonatas Op. 120
Violin Sonata Op. 102 & 108
Cello Sonatas Op. 38 & Op. 99
Dvorak
Piano Quintet & Piano Quartet No.2
Dorman
Woodwind Quintet “Jerusalem Mix”
Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano
Faure
Piano Quartet in C minor Op. 15
Hindemith
Viola Sonatas Op. 11 & Op. 25
Mozart
Piano Quartet in G minor K. 478
Schubert
The “Trout” Quintet
Schumann
Violin Sonatas Op. 105 & Op. 121
Fantasy Piece Op. 73
Eliran Avni, Curriculum Vitae
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V. PRESS AND TESTIMONIALS
“He plays the hell out of the piano… He is also lyrical and intensely musical, and in an age of
wonderful pianists I think he is very special.”
–John Corigliano, Composer
“Eliran Avni plays these works with an assurance and flexibility that make them sound as if they
had been in his repertory forever. He has the ironclad technique that Mr. Dorman's writing
demands, but there is ample suppleness in his playing as well, a quality that makes the slow,
quiet movements as arresting as the fiery ones.”
–Allan Kozinn, New York Times
"I found the performance very impressive... I think he has a wonderful future."
–Zubin Mehta, Conductor
"The new hope of Israeli music is the pianist Eliran Avni... The conductor Zubin Mehta chose
him as the only pianist in the special young artists concert... The maestro shook his hand and
said "Bravo" three times."
–Ma'ariv, Israeli Daily
“During our recording sessions Eliran Avni impressed me with his interpretations and with his
integrity as an artist and as a person. He is a masterful pianist with an individual musical vision
that is totally his own and is completely compelling.”
–David Frost, Grammy-award-winning producer
"A formidable and brilliant technique and a real virtuoso of the instrument combine to produce
some astonishing artistry at the keyboard... Having worked with him for some time now, I know
his dedication can be added to his musical qualities... One day, Eliran will - I am convinced - be
one of the most formidable pianists, representing his country on the world stage as one of the
great musicians of our time."
–Maria Curcio, Pianist; teacher of Martha Argerich and Radu Lupu
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"During my visit to the Jerusalem Music Center, I gave a lesson to a very talented young man,
Eliran Avni... His ability and talent, as well as his accomplishment, are truly outstanding... He
may become one of Israel's finest musicians."
–Victor Rosenbaum, Pianist
"Eliran has proven himself to be a wonderful musician, an accomplished and impressive pianist,
a person of outstanding intellect and an exemplary human being. He has earned the respect of
everyone he has worked with, and has been an asset to me as a presence in my class and also as
my assistant."
–Dr. Yoheved Kaplinsky, Chair, Piano Department, The Juilliard School
“Finally, listening to young pianist Eliran Avni, was to observe a star-in-the-making. Avni’s solo
‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ was worth the price of admission.”
–Shera Cohen, Bravo Magazine
“Pianist Eliran Avni explored the wide range of ethereality in Dorman’s Piano Sonata No. 3,
confidently traversing the extreme minimalism and bold textures that make up this atmospheric
music.”
–Michael Huebner, The Birmingham News
On Dorman’s Chamber Concerti Recording:
“Written when he was just 20 years of age, Dorman’s Piano Concerto in A Major is a splashy
technicolor work that embraces virtuosic showmanship, combining a prevailingly Neo-romantic
aesthetic with occasional post-minimal ostinati. Pianist Eliran Avni captures the concerto’s spirit,
performing its often dizzyingly paced passagework and cadenzas with pizzazz.”
–Christian Carey, Sequenza 21
“Dorman was only 19 when he wrote his Piano Concerto; it’s the most conventional work on the
disc, clearly neo-Baroque, but no less charming for that in soloist Eliran Avni’s capable hands…
This is really good stuff, a genuine discovery, beautifully played and excellently engineered. It
will make you feel good about the future of contemporary Classical music.”
–David Hurwitz, Classicaltoday.com
Eliran Avni, Curriculum Vitae
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“(on the piano concerto) I had a lot of fun listening to this!...The music feels fresh and quite inspired. The
performances are absolutely perfect, the Metropolis Ensemble with conductor Andrew Cyr and Eliran
Avni soloist…Go and snap that one up. . You’ll enjoy it over and over again.”
–Michael Barone, Classical Minnesota Radio
“Pianist Eliran Avni plays expressively in both the fast and slow passages; his contribution is
outstanding.”
–Phillip Scott, Fanfare Magazine
“Eliran Avni is magnificent. He plays with disarming and enthralling fist-banging recklessness.
This is happy music, happily performed.”
–Oleg Ledeniov, MusicWeb International
On Eliran Avni Performing Avner Dorman’s Solo Piano Works Recording:
“Dorman is handsomely served in these performances by fellow Israeli Eliran Avni, who weds steely
technique with ripe poetic sensibility.”
–Terry Blain, MUSO Magazine
“Eliran Avni's performances of Dorman's works expertly balance virtuosity with elegant simplicity,
which is especially remarkable considering Avni's youth.”
–Brad Glanden, Sequenza 21
"What a wonderful and satisfying duo: A composer with a strong and compelling language, and a pianist
capable of transmitting the message with powerful and luminous clarity. Dorman is a significant voice,
equally effective with classical forms and ethnic dances. Avni is a pianist whose musical integrity and
commitment to Dorman's writing is evident in every piece. This disc is a gem!"
–Dr. Yoheved Kaplinsky, Chair, Piano Department, The Juilliard School
"I was still not prepared for the excitement of this new disc of his complete (to-date) piano music... Every
work is written with supreme craft and performed vibrantly and thrillingly by pianist Eliran Avni. It's
hard to find a new disc of contemporary piano music that is really exciting or freshly invigorating, but
this disc of Dorman’s most certainly is.”
–Thomas Abbott, Living Music Magazine
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"First to Avner Dorman’s solo piano works performed by Eliran Avni. À la bonheur! This is good music
– of the kind that, if it were by a prominent, preferably dead, composer, would be called “eminently
pleasing” and “utterly delightful.” Since it is a new face, however, that shows his “Classical” Sonata No.
1, Moments Musicaux (some competition he’s got with other works that go by that title), Prelude No. 1
(written as an 18-year-old), Sonata No. 2 and the 2005 Dance Suite: Sonata No. 3, one is tempted to be
more reserved and say things like “charming, if harmless” or “quaint and unchallenging listening.”
Probably a bit of both is true, but more importantly there are some ‘damn good’ moments, too – and that
these works make for very enjoyable listening. Repeat listening is even more rewarding: the playful way
that the “classical” first sonata mimics anything from Beethoven to Liszt (“Romantic” would have been
just as good a nickname) to popular music and has all the youthful quirks of unburdened composing.
Dorman has an ear for a good tune but avoids cheapness. Come to think of it, this is 'damn good'."
–Jens F. Laurson, Logan Circle, Ionarts.com
"Good, modern recording, and precise, well- characterized playing by the young Israeli pianist Eliran
Avni. Avni is the same age as Dorman; his interpretations have the edge and deliberate brittleness the
music implies – art is fragile, humanity vulnerable, congruence and harmonious existence a struggle.”
–Ying Chang, musicalpointers.com
On SHUFFLE Concert:
"The SHUFFLE Concert, presented in a distinguished and quite traditional chamber music venue
here in New York, was a huge hit. The audience loved the whimsical and unexpected on-the-spot
nature of the selection of repertoire. When combined with warm speaking about the music by
members of the group and the first-rate performances that followed, this made for an
exceptionally wonderful and unusual evening. Bravo!"
–Bärli Nugent, Director of Chamber Music, The Juilliard School
“The music students and faculty of the Sunderman Conservatory at Gettysburg College were so
enthusiastic about the residency and concert by SHUFFLE Concert that requests to bring them back to
campus began before these talented musician-teachers had left campus. The members of SHUFFLE
clearly relished working with students and were models for the type of entrepreneurial creativity we
want to foster in aspiring 21st-century musicians. Our recital hall was filled for their innovative concert,
which received an enthusiastic response. I heartily recommend them! Plans are already in the works to
bring SHUFFLE Concert back to Gettysburg.”
–Kay Hoke, Director, Sunderman Conservatory of Music at Gettysburg College
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“Without a doubt, this is a brilliant idea… This sort of active participation from the audience in shaping
the concert leads to higher and deeper levels of alertness and listening as well as more complex
enjoyment...a brilliant idea…”
–Yon Feder, Latest News
“In the quest to bring ‘culture’ to college campuses, Activity Directors have looked for ensembles that
will appeal to their students. Many of these groups have lots of flash and little talent. SHUFFLE Concert
has plenty of flash AND loads of talent. Their unique music selection process involves everyone in the
audience. Hearing everything from classical to Broadway, my students didn't want the concert to end!”
–Betsy Buzzeli-Clarke, Chair of Music Department, East Stroudsburg University, PA
“The SHUFFLE Concert residency exceeded my expectations in every possible way. Six composition
students received world-class recordings of their music and direct professional advice on their work;
performance students received hours of coaching from ensemble members; and the SHUFFLE Concert
itself was an instant hit - the response was universal: ‘When can we have them back!?"
–Avner Dorman, Assistant Professor, Composition and Music Theory, The Sunderman
Conservatory of Music
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