Displaying a unique blend of technical brilliance and a rich musical persona, Israeli mandolinist Jacob Reuven has established himself as one of the most intriguing and sought-after mandolin virtuosos. Jacob’s repertoire spans classical, baroque, contemporary, and world music, as well as compositions for modern dance and theater. As a soloist, Jacob has performed with some of the most esteemed orchestras such as the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, BBC Philharmonic, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, and many others. He has taken the stage at renowned international festivals and concert halls, including Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and Festival International Mandolines de Lunel. Jacob has collaborated with conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Mstislav Rostropovitch, Antonio Pappano and Mendi Rodan. His performances are characterized by the warmth, richness, and nostalgic flavor of his playing, qualities that have endeared him to both audiences and critics. He is a highly regarded mandolin pedagogue and serves as a mandolin teacher at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. His instrument is a custom-made mandolin by Arik and Yam Kerman. He is a member of Barrocade: the Israel Baroque Collective, where he frequently takes on the role of soloist. Jacob is a valued member of the award-winning Kerman Mandolin Quartet, Israeli Mandolin Soloists, Duo Mantar, Ensemble Maktub, and the 16 Strings duo. Jacob embarked on his mandolin journey at the age of eight under the guidance of Prof. Simha Nathanson at the Be’er-Sheva Music Conservatory. He continued his studies with Mr. Lev Haimovitch before pursuing further training at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, working closely with Prof. Motti Smidt. During his academic pursuits, Jacob achieved remarkable success, winning the academy’s Concerto Competition twice in addition to the first prize in the International Plectro Rioja competition in Spain, marking the beginning of his promising career.

In this evening’s concert, three of his outstanding students will take the stage with him. The young soloists are students of the Jerusalem Academy of Music, and participate in “The Israeli Mandolin Soloists” ensemble that Reuven has been leading for a decade.