Lahav Shani was born in Tel Aviv in 1989 in the family of conductor Michael Shani. Studied the piano from the age of six with Hannah Shalgi and subsequently with Arie Vardi. Later he took lessons from Teddy Kling, leader of the double bass section of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Continued his studies at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin under Christian Ehwald (conducting) and Fabio Bidini (piano). Attended masterclasses conducted by Daniel Barenboim.
From 2000 to 2010 he was a grant-recipient of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation. Participated in the youth education programme of the Jerusalem Music Centre. From 2015 to 2017 he was a grant-recipient of the Daniel Barenboim Foundation and the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler Berlin.
Has appeared as a pianist and double bass player, performing with orchestras under Zubin Mehta, Daniel Barenboim, Gustavo Dudamel and Kurt Masur.
In 2013 he won 1st prize at the Gustav Mahler International Conducting Competition in Bamberg (Germany).
Has conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Berliner Staatskapelle, the Wiener Philharmoniker, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Berliner Philharmoniker, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra (London), the Orchestre de Paris, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Budapest Festival Orchestra, the Gewandhausorchester in Leipzig and the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks. From 2017 to 2020 he was Principal Guest Conductor of the Wiener Symphoniker.
Regular participant at the Verbier Festival, and has also appeared at the Easter Festival in Aix-en-Provence and the Jerusalem International Chamber Music Festival.
In June 2016 he made his debut with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra as conductor and pianist, becoming the ensemble’s Chief Conductor in 2018. Since 2020 he has also been Music Director Designate of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
Information for December 2020
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