Nir Kabaretti

Nir Kabaretti

Internationally acclaimed conductor, Nir Kabaretti, is the Music and Artistic director of the Santa Barbara Symphony and the Israel Sinfonietta Be’er Sheva. Florida Symphony. He was also Music Director of the Southwest Florida Symphony (2014-2020) and the Symphonette Raanana (2002-2008).
Described as “a conductor with immense musicality and warm personality” by Maestro Zubin Mehta, Kabaretti has earned an impressive reputation across continents for his command of a vast symphonic and operatic repertoire, and his profound knowledge of and sensitivity to the music he conducts.
Education & Early History
Born in Israel, Kabaretti began piano lessons at the age of six, later studied piano and conducting at The Rubin Academy of Music in Tel Aviv, and continued his education at the prestigious University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, where he graduated from in 1995
Upon his graduation, Kabaretti began working as coach and chorus master at the Vienna State Opera and the Salzburg Festival. He subsequently advanced to positions as Assistant to the Music Director at the Teatro Real in Madrid and personal assistant to Maestro Zubin Mehta at Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence, Italy.
During this time he collaborated with some the world most important conductors of the time including Claudio Abbado, Lorin Maazel, Seiji Ozawa, Valery Gergiev and Riccardo Muti.