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February 11, 2020
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Dror Semmel

Israeli pianist Dror Semmel teaches piano, chamber music and theory at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, Tel Aviv University. He also teaches at the Israel Conservatory in Tel Aviv and formerly taught at the Levinsky College as well as the Jerusalem Conservatory, where he served as the head of the piano department. His students regularly win top prizes in competitions and perform with orchestras in Israel and abroad.

Dror Semmel has appeared extensively in Israel, Europe and North America as soloist with orchestras, recitalist, chamber musician and pedagogue. 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". A keen chamber musician, he has been collaborating with leading artists and appeared in the main venues and series in Israel. Together with his sister, pianist Shir Semmel, he co-founded the Jerusalem Piano Duo.

He is the artistic director of the Eden Tamir Music Center in Ein Kerem, Jerusalem, and the artistic director of the Kan Voice of Music Young Artists Competition. Together with Mrs. Lea Agmon, he is the co-director of the Edward Aldwell Institute in Jerusalem.

Dror Semmel graduated from the Jerusalem Academy as a student of Bracha Eden and Alexander Tamir. He continued his studies in NYC with Victor Rosenbaum and Jacob Lateiner, and completed his doctorate as a student of Gilbert Kalish. He also worked regularly with pianist Richard Goode.