Dror Biran
Dror Biran
Winner of top prizes at the M.K Čiurlionis International Piano Competition, the Cleveland International Piano among others, Israeli-American Pianist Dror Biran has been described by The Cleveland Plain Dealer as “his fortissimos crashed and roared, but next to them came pianissimos that whispered seductively…he has technique to burn and uses it effectively.” Biran’s superb tonal control combined with interesting phrasing and voicing has won him consistent critical acclaim and enthusiastic audiences.
Biran has performed widely as a soloist with major orchestras including the Lithuanian Philharmonic Orchestra, RTVE Symphony Orchestra of Spain, Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. He has played under the batons of Etinger, Rodan, Gueller, Gacia Asensio, Mester, Lane and others. His concert tours have taken him to the United States, Israel and South Africa, South Korea and China along with Eastern and Western Europe.
As an avid chamber musician, Biran has appeared on a regular basis with different music ensembles such as Carmel, Amernet and Aviv String Quartets. He premiered works by Grawemyer and Rome Award winners such as York Höler and Sebastian Currier. His concerts have been broadcasted by WUOL, WCLV, WQXR, The Voice of Music – Israel and Classic FM South Africa, among others. Biran can be heard on the JMC (Jerusalem Music Centre) labels featuring ballades by Brahms and Chopin.
A recipient of multiple scholarships from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation for distinguished musicians, Biran began his piano studies with Ms. Lily Dorfman, and mentored by Arie Vardi, Paul Schenly, Daniel Shapiro and Lee Luvisi. He graduated from Rubin Academy of Music at Tel-Aviv University and the Cleveland Institute of Music where he received his doctorate degree in piano performance.
Biran taught at the University of Louisville, Youngstown State University and Case Western Reserve University. Currently, he serves as an Associate Professor of Piano at the College-Conservatory of Music University of Cincinnati.