Shahar Elhayani

Shahar Elhayani

Shahar Elhayani is a pianist currently studying a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music, Tel Aviv University, under the mentorship of Dr. Dror Semmel. Born in Haifa, Shahar began playing the piano at the age of 7 and has since distinguished himself in the field through numerous awards and scholarships.

Throughout his career, Shahar has been recognized for his exceptional skills and dedication. He has won prizes in various competitions, including the Young Artist Competition and Piano Forever. He is also a scholarship recipient from the Ronen Foundation and the America Israel Cultural foundation(Keren Sharett - AICF), awarded with honors. His accomplishments include winning first prize at the Concerto Competition in Arad, which earned him a full scholarship from Tsafonot Culture. Additionally, Shahar received full scholarships to the IPM-SEEO program, managed by Pascal Nemirovski, and to a course at the Mannes School of Music, where he studied under Professor Pavlina Dokovska and Richard Goode.

Shahar's formative experiences include participation in various masterclasses with renowned musicians such as Dmitri Bashkirov, Gilbert Kalish, and Richard Goode. He has been involved in masterclasses with Victor Rosenbaum and Menachem Wiesenberg at the Jerusalem Music Center "Mishkenot Sha'ananim" and had also harmony and theory lessons.

In recent years, Shahar has been a consistent participant in the Young Pianists Excellence Program at the Oldwell Institute, where he has studied with prominent teachers including Pavlina Dokovska, Norma Fisher, and Jeffrey Swann. His dedication to the art of piano performance is further evidenced by his regular performances in chamber music ensembles and his work in accompanying light music and jazz.

Looking ahead, Shahar plans to pursue a master's degree to further develop his skills as a performing pianist and as a knowledgeable musician. His ongoing journey in music is supported by scholarships from Keren Sharet (AICF), Tsafonot Culture and the Haifa Cultural Foundation, reflecting his commitment to excellence and his passion for music.