By Eileen Wingard
SAN DIEGO –Israeli-born pianist, Ory Shihor, celebrated performer, pedagogue and administrator, will share his artistry in a program of works by Mozart and Schubert at the Dove Library in Carlsbad on Sunday, Feb. 26, at 2:00 p.m. The multi-faceted musician teaches piano in three of the divisions of the famous Colburn School in Los Angeles: the Conservatory, for college-age students, the Academy, for gifted pre-college students and the School of Performing Arts, with open enrollment for students of all ages. He serves as the Director of the Colburn Academy and co-director of the Piano Department of the School of Performing Arts.
From the age of 12, Shihor has been a recipient of scholarships from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation (AICF). For many years under the leadership of Isaac Stern and his former wife, Vera, AICF continues to support talented young Israeli musicians.
At 15, Shihor left Israel for the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia, studying with Jorge Bolet, and later, at the Juilliard School, working with John Perry and Russell Sherman. Shihor won Juilliard’s prestigious Gina Bachauer Prize. Other important awards include the Young Concert Artists International Auditions, the 9th Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competion in Israel, the 1999 Washington International Piano Competition and a recital at Chicago’s Ravinia Festival in their “Rising Star” series.
Following his New York debut at the 82nd Street “Y,” Newsday proclaimed him, “the first important Israeli pianist to come along in years.” With performances in the USA, Europe and Israel, Shihor has established himself as one of the leading young pianists on the concert stage today.
At the Colburn School, the Israeli musician serves on a faculty which includes the master violin professor, Robert Lipsett, teacher of Leila Josephowicz and Sheryl Staples; Arnold Steinhardt, first violinist of the Guarnari Quartet; and cellist Ronald Leonard. The Jascha Heifetz Exhibit and his studio are permanently housed at the Colburn School. Established in 1950 and supported by the generosity of benefactor, Richard D. Colburn, the Colburn School has gained the reputation of being the Juilliard of the West.
The San Diego Center for Jewish Culture, under the direction of Wendy Sabin-Lasker, is presenting this outstanding artist as part of the Performing Arts Series: Look and Listen. Major support for this program comes from the Leichtag Foundation.
For ticket information, call the JCC Box Office at: 858-457-3030.
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Wingard is a freelance writer and retired violinist with the San Diego Symphony