Sharon Cohen

Sharon Cohen is a member of the first violin section of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and currently serves on the Philharmonic’s management team. She served on the Orchestra Council for nearly a decade, including a term as Chair of the Council. Previously, she was a member of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra under the direction of Daniel Barenboim, where she served as Principal Second Violin. Between both orchestras she performed at some of Europe’s most prestigious international festivals, appearing in both orchestral and chamber music concerts.

Sharon is a founding member of A Far Cry, one of the leading chamber orchestras in the United States, where she also led the orchestra’s educational initiatives. Her recordings include four albums with A Far Cry, featuring a solo performance on the orchestra’s debut album, as well as numerous recordings with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra.

An active chamber musician, Sharon performs regularly in the Israel Philharmonic’s chamber music series, at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, the Israeli Conservatory of Music Tel Aviv (Stricker), the Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival, and other leading venues. She is also a regular coach of the violin section of the Israel Philharmonic Young Orchestra. In addition to her classical career, she performs as a member of Maya Belsitzman’s ensemble in a variety of crossover programs.

Sharon Cohen holds a Master’s degree from the New England Conservatory in Boston and a Bachelor’s degree from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. She has appeared as a soloist with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Zubin Mehta.