Nir Erez has been a member of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra since 2008, having been accepted by Maestro Zubin Mehta, and has served as its Principal Trombonist since 2011. He began his musical studies in Lod with Vladimir Flaxman and Nachman Yariv. In addition to appearing as a soloist with the IPO, he has performed as Guest Principal Trombonist with the Mozart Orchestra (Claudio Abbado), La Scala Milan, and the Helsinki Philharmonic, and performs regularly with the 21st Century Ensemble and the Israel Camerata Jerusalem. Nir teaches at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music and the Kfar Saba Conservatory, instructs leading ensembles such as the Young Israel Philharmonic and the Kibbutzim Orchestra, and conducts masterclasses worldwide, with students holding positions in professional orchestras and winning international prizes. He studied with Daniele Morandini (Italy), Micha Davis (Israel), Yigal Meltzer (Israel), Joe Alessi (USA), and Ian Bousfield (Switzerland), and is currently studying harmony and keyboard with Allaudin Mathieu (USA). In his musical approach, Nir integrates yoga and breathing techniques, believing in music’s power to serve as a bridge to the human soul.