Shachar Israel

   Shachar Israel serves as Assistant Principal Trombone of the Cleveland Orchestra. His extensive performance career includes engagements with renowned orchestras such as the Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Symphony, and Montreal Symphony. Before joining the Cleveland Orchestra, Mr. Israel was Principal Trombonist with the Hartford (CT) and Haddonfield (NJ) Symphonies.

   In addition to his orchestral work, Mr. Israel is an accomplished soloist and chamber musician. He has performed with the celebrated Canadian Brass and recorded four albums with the group. His two solo albums, Dawn (2020) and Stranger at Home (2023), both feature newly commissioned works. Stranger at Home uniquely explores compositions by immigrants to the United States, offering a personal and culturally rich narrative. Mr. Israel’s soloist appearances include performances with the Jupiter Symphony in New York City, the U.S. Army Orchestra, and the Cleveland Winds.

  A passionate educator, Mr. Israel is on the faculty of Cleveland State University and serves as the Founder and Director of the Cleveland Trombone Seminar (CTS), an annual event that brings together aspiring students and world-class professionals for nine days of intensive learning and performance. In addition to his role at CTS, Mr. Israel frequently presents masterclasses, clinics, and recitals across the United States, sharing his expertise with the next generation of musicians.

   Mr. Israel earned his Bachelor of Music from the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he studied under Nitzan Haroz. His other influential mentors also include Mark Lawrence, Mitchell Ross, Micha Davis, and Joseph Nashkes. His musical journey also includes time as a member of the Verbier Festival Orchestra and the Spoleto Festival Orchestra, as well as two summers at the Music Academy of the West. Born in Nahariya, Israel, he began his musical path with the Kiryat-Yam Wind Band and graduated from Thelma Yellin High School. His studies were generously supported by the America-Israel Cultural Foundation’s scholarship program, including the Keren Sharet Competitions.