What age did you begin playing a musical instrument?
I started playing the piano when I was 7 years old, and stuck with it for 10 years. When I was 9 years old I wanted to join my school’s orchestra and the music teacher decided that I should play the piccolo, and by that, sealed my fate… Later on even when I switched to playing the flute, I always kept the piccolo as well, playing both in youth orchestras and the army band.

What age did you understand that you wish to pursue a musical career?
In a very young age I have noticed how much I love performing, and I knew that my future is going to be on stages.

Name an unforgettable moment with the IPO
I was very fortunate to be a part of many meaningful events like the first tour to Poland in 1987, and Russia in 1990. There is no doubt that one of the most moving events was the farewell festival from maestro Zubin Mehta, after 50 years of being our music director. In the last concert while playing Mahler’s 2nd symphony not a single eye stayed dry, both on stage and in the hall, and that memory will stay forever with us all.

What do you love to do off stage?
Off stage I like teaching and making musical arrangements – a hobby which I’ve had for many years and it gives me a lot of pleasure.

What is the special significance of the IPO to you/Why did you want to be part of the IPO?
When I was 24 years old I was called to replace the IPO’s piccolo player who was suddenly sick – and the rest is history… Since then I’m here, for more than 30 years. By coincidence I have arrived at any Israeli musician’s dream.

Did you acquire any new skills during the pandemic?
Covid-19 has changed all of our lives, and forced us to reconsider our paths. These days have made uncertainty as part of the new normal. I’ve decided to take an old dream of mine and pursue it as a new profession which I can learn without years of devotion, and these days I’m in the process of getting a bus driving license. No one knows what’s waiting for us in the future, and in days like these it’s preferable to have another source of income.

How can we keep classical music and live performances relevant in the digital era?
I truly hope that soon we will all go back on track and the concert halls will be filled up again. That being said, it is important that we keep and develop all things created in this period on the digital media – that way we could go back to the traditional live concerts as well as approach different distant audiences through media.