Shmuel Magen    viola da gamba

Shmuel Magen is professor of cello, chamber music and cello pedagogy in the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. He also plays the viola da gamba.

Former principal cellist of the Israel Chamber Orchestra, the Kibbutz Chamber Orchestra, and the Lyon Opera in France, he was also a member of the Israel Philarmonic Orchestra under Maestro Zubin Mehta.

Shmuel magen appeared as soloist with different orchestras in Israel, France, Belgium India and the USA, including the Israel Chamber Orchestra, The Haifa Symphony, The Yale Philharmonia, The Bombay Chamber Orchestra and The Jerusalem Chamber Orchestra.

Former member of the Jerusalem String Trio and the Jerusalem String Quartet actually he is a member of the "Idan" Piano Trio.

Mr. Magen graduated respectively from the Paris National Conservatory (CNSMDP) and the Yale School of Music (Yale University). His Teachers were: Uzi Wiesel, Paul Tortelier and Aldo Parisot.

He is invited for Master Classes in many universities and conservatories. In recent years he gave Master classes in Manhattan School of Music, Cleveland Institute, University of Indiana in Bloomington, Yale University, University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, University of Cincinnati and Oberlin College.

Professor Magen is founder and was musical director for the last ten years of "Music in the Valley" Festival and Summer Institute for strings that takes place every summer in the northern part of Israel.

He also plays the viola da gamba and performs often with the PHOENIX ensemble, in programs of old and new music for old instruments.