Israel Kastoriano

Israel Kastoriano was born in Istanbul, Turkey, where he began his piano studies. He subsequently studied at the Rubin Academy of Music, Jerusalem, Israel and the Mannes College of Music, New York, where he graduated with highest honors in both piano and orchestral conducting.

During his seven year stay in the USA Mr. Kastoriano appeared in solo recital and chamber music concerts for radio and television as well as at the Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. He was assistant conductor to Mr. Leon Barzun at the National Orchestral Association. At the Tanglewood Festival he won first prize in piano with citations from Gunther Schuller and Seiji Ozawa. He was also a finalist in the Bolzano piano competition, Italy.

Mr. Kastoriano is pianist and keyboard player of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and as such has collaborated with great conductors including Zubin Mehta, Leonard Bernstein and Kurt Masur. He regularly tours with the orchestra.

In addition to the Opus 3 Trio Israel Kastoriano is active as a solo and chamber musician, appearing regularly with the very best of Israeli and foreign musicians. He performs in a four-hand piano duo with Anat Sharon and has also performed extensively with the cellists Michael Haran and Michel Strauss, flutist Yossi Arnheim, violinists Yigal Tuneh and Gerard Poulet, and clarinetist Richard Lesser, to name but a few. He has participated in the Kfar Blum Music Festival, Israel.

Mr. Kastoriano has recorded an album of solo piano music by Mozart. He regularly tours South and North America, Europe and Turkey as a chamber musician and recitalist.

His involvement with voice accompaniment brought him into collaboration with the New Israel Opera. He received a special invitiation from Placido Domingo to serve as principal pianist and assistant conductor at the singing competition in Madrid. He was also the principal pianist at the Leonard Bernstein singing competition in Jerusalem, Israel.