Dmitry Ratush, Principal Violist of the Israel Philharmonic as of the 2019-20 season and founding member of the Toscanini String Quartet, was previously Assistant Principal Violist of the Israel Philharmonic (2004-2020). He made his debut in New York at the Merkin Concert Hall in 1991. One of the leading string players in Israel, he was Assistant Principal Violist of the Israel Camerata Jerusalem and Principal Violist of the Bern Symphony in Switzerland and regulary took part in major projects of the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana, Palau del les Artes (Spain) under the baton of Zubin Mehta as guest Principal Violist.
In 1990 Dmitry Ratush and his family left Russia and settled in Israel. That same year he begun his studies at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance with world-renowned viola virtuoso Michael Kugel, graduating in 1994. He continued his studies in Dallas, Texas at SMU, Meadows School of the Arts with Dr. E. Schmieder and Professor B. Hustis.
Dmitry Ratush is a founding member of the Millennium Chamber Ensemble, at the Targ Music Center in Jerusalem. He has appeared with the ensemble on a number of live broadcasts on Kol Hamusica, the Israeli classical music channel, and recorded two CDs.
As a chamber musician, he has performed regularly in the Israel Festival and the Voice of Music Festival in the Upper Galilee. He has also appeared as soloist and chamber musician in international festivals and chamber music series all over the world.