Lahav Shani, Music Director of the Israel Philharmonic, started his conducting career when he won first prize at the 2013 Gustav Mahler International Conducting Competition in Bamberg. In 2018 he became Chief Conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, being the youngest Chief Conductor in the orchestra’s history. From the 2017-18 season until 2020, he was Principal Guest Conductor of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. His performances as guest conductor include concerts with the Bavarian Radio Symphony, London Symphony, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Dresden Staatskapelle, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic, Tonhalle Orchestra of Zurich, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Boston Symphony, Berlin Radio Symphony, Philharmonia Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, Philadelphia Orchestra, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Bamberg Symphony and Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France.
He also works regularly with the Berlin Staatskapelle, both at the Berlin Staatsoper and also for symphonic concerts. In October 2013 he was invited to open the season of the Israel Philharmonic. An immediate re-invitation followed for the next two seasons. His close relationship with the Israel Philharmonic started in 2007, when he performed Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto under the baton of Zubin Mehta, and continued in 2010, when Maestro Mehta invited him to join the Israel Philharmonic on its Far East tour as pianist, assistant conductor and double bass player.
Lahav Shani was born in 1989 in Tel Aviv and started his piano studies aged six with Hannah Shalgi, continuing with Prof. Arie Vardi at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music in Tel Aviv. He then went on to complete his studies in conducting with Prof. Christian Ehwald and piano with Prof. Fabio Bidini, both at the Academy of Music Hanns Eisler Berlin.
Whilst a student he was mentored by Daniel Barenboim. As a pianist, Lahav Shani made his solo recital debut at the Boulez Saal in Berlin in July 2018. He has play-directed piano concerti with many orchestras including the Philharmonia Orchestra, Staatskapelle Berlin, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and the Israel Philharmonic. Lahav Shani also has considerable experience performing chamber music and recitals. He is a regular performer at the Verbier Festival, and has also appeared at the Aix-en-Provence Easter and Jerusalem Chamber Music Festivals.
He also works regularly with the Berlin Staatskapelle, both at the Berlin Staatsoper and also for symphonic concerts. In October 2013 he was invited to open the season of the Israel Philharmonic. An immediate re-invitation followed for the next two seasons. His close relationship with the Israel Philharmonic started in 2007, when he performed Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto under the baton of Zubin Mehta, and continued in 2010, when Maestro Mehta invited him to join the Israel Philharmonic on its Far East tour as pianist, assistant conductor and double bass player.
Lahav Shani was born in 1989 in Tel Aviv and started his piano studies aged six with Hannah Shalgi, continuing with Prof. Arie Vardi at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music in Tel Aviv. He then went on to complete his studies in conducting with Prof. Christian Ehwald and piano with Prof. Fabio Bidini, both at the Academy of Music Hanns Eisler Berlin.
Whilst a student he was mentored by Daniel Barenboim. As a pianist, Lahav Shani made his solo recital debut at the Boulez Saal in Berlin in July 2018. He has play-directed piano concerti with many orchestras including the Philharmonia Orchestra, Staatskapelle Berlin, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and the Israel Philharmonic. Lahav Shani also has considerable experience performing chamber music and recitals. He is a regular performer at the Verbier Festival, and has also appeared at the Aix-en-Provence Easter and Jerusalem Chamber Music Festivals.
