Michael Shaham

Michael Shaham was born in 2003 into a family deeply rooted in classical music. His father, Hagai Shaham, is a skilled violinist and Michael’s own talent became apparent during his early years. At the age of ten, he won scholarships with distinction from both the America-Israel Cultural Foundation and the Jerusalem Music Centre, which would lay the foundations for his musical pathway.

Michael’s career as a violin soloist has brought him appearances with numerous orchestras including the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Israel Symphony Orchestra, Israel Camerata Jerusalem, Israel Chamber Orchestra, Haifa Symphony Orchestra, Raanana Symphonette and the Israel Netanya Kibbutz Orchestra.

In 2022, Michael won first prize at the isaChallenge competition in Austria followed by second prize at the Fritz Kreisler International Competition in Vienna. He was a finalist at the Concours musical international de Montréal in 2023. Further accolades include the Arcady Frumin Award, which he received in 2018 and which resulted in a performance of Bach’s Double Violin Concerto together with Vadim Gluzman and the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra in honour of Henryk Szeryng.

A significant step in Michael’s formal training came at the age of 16 when he entered the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. Here he honed his skills under the tutelage of mentors Shmuel Ashkenazi and Ida Kavafian.

In addition to his solo activities, Michael is an active chamber musician. He has worked with acclaimed musicians including violinists Vadim Gluzman and Grigory Kalinowsky, violist Ron Ephrat, cellists Raphael Wallfisch and Hillel Zori, and the pianists Avedis Kouyoumdjian and Arnon Erez.

During the upcoming 2024/25 season, Michael is set to appear in Suntory Hall with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and will also give a performance of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto. A collaboration is likewise planned with the Israel Symphony Orchestra to perform Beethoven’s Violin Concerto.

Michael plays a violin by Santino Lavazza (Milan, circa 1714), on loan from the Ryuji Ueno Foundation and Rare Violins in Consortium, Artists and Benefactors Collaborative. 

He has been studying as a Young Soloist of Kronberg Academy with Mihaela Martin since autumn 2024. From October 2025, he will continue his studies with Janine Jansen. His studies are funded by the Beethoven patronage.