Oded Hadar

Recipient of the Audience Choice Prize in the prestigious Aviv Cello Competition, Israeli cellist Oded Hadar has performed worldwide as both soloist and chamber musician. In 2008, he received a special distinction award from Maestro Zubin Mehta, resulting in a solo appearance with the Buchmann Mehta Symphony Orchestra. Other solo appearances include performances with the Thelma Yellin Orchestra as well as a tour across Hungary with the Kfar Saba Symphony Orchestra. A three-time winner of both the strings and chamber music competitions of the Buchmann Mehta School of Music, Mr. Hadar, has also won top prizes in the Turjeman and Young Artist Competitions and the Cello Concerto Competition in New England Conservatory. He was a scholarship recipient of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation for 13 years and served as an outstanding musician in the Israeli Defense Forces. As a chamber musician, he has collaborated with Shmuel Ashkenazy, Atar Arad, Rudolf Koelman, and Menahem Breuer, and has participated in masterclasses with Janus Starker, Bernhard Greenhouse, Frans Helmerson, Gary Hoffman, Ralph Kirshbaum, Antonia Meneses, and Uzi Wiesel. Summer festival appearances include the Perlman Music Program in Israel, the Salzburg Music Festival, the Chigiana Academy Festival in Siena, the Brussels Chamber Music Festival and the Kefar Blum Music Festival. Born in Tel Aviv in 1988, Oded Began his cello studies at the age of six. After studies in Tel Aviv University with Hillel Zori, he received his Masters Degree from the New England Conservatory, studying with Paul Katz.