B i o g r a p h y
Dor Sperber was born in Israel in 1991 and began playing the violin at the age of 5. He took up the viola at age 15 and soon after was invited to study a Bachelor’s degree at the prestigious Conservatoire de Lausanne under the guidance of Prof. Bruno Pasquier and Gilad Karni. The same year he won the Phil Collins scholarship that supported him for the duration of his studies.
In 2010, Dor commenced his M.A studies at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance under the tutelage of Mr. Avshalom Sarid. In parallel, he served as Principal Violist of the ''Aurora Festival Orchestra'', based in Trollhättan, Sweden.
Dor continued to postgraduate studies at the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana in Lugano with Prof. Danilo Rossi, the principal Violist of Teatro Alla Scala. During this time, he was invited to perform as Principal Violist in the Venice Opera "La Fenice" as well as appearing frequently in the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
He then spent 3 years under the tutelage of Professors Ivan Vukcevic and Maxim Vengerov at the prestigious International Menuhin Music Academy near lake Geneva. Here, he served as Principal Violist of the Menuhin Soloists, an ensemble composed of 16 exceptional string players from 12 different nationalities that performs regularly in prestigious venues around the world.
Dor left his mark on several international competitions, including Second Prize at the Stockholm International Music Competition (2014), First Prize at the Premio Città di Padova (2012), First Prize at the David Gritz Strings Competition in Jerusalem (2012), First Prize at the Roz Choron Chamber Music Competition in Jerusalem (2012) and a special Musical Personality Prize at the II International Master's Review in Piła, Poland (2010). In addition, he was awarded excellence scholarships from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation, Chais Foundation for Excellence,Y&S Nazarian Family Foundation, Ronen Foundation of America and of Israel, European Union, International Menuhin Music Academy in Gstaad, Little Dreams Foundation and the Jewish community of Switzerland.
He has appeared as a soloist with orchestras around the world, performing in prestigious venues such as the Victoria Hall in Geneva, CCK and Teatro El Circulo in Buenos Aires, KKL Luzern, and in leading festivals such as the Menuhin festival in Gstaad, Pietrasanta in Concerto in Tuscany, Le Printemps du Violon in Paris, and many others. Recent engagements include Principal Violist of the Israel Camerata Orchestra, Professor in the prestigious Conservatoire du Valais in Switzerland and the International School of Geneva.
As a musical ambassador and a polyglot, Dor participates regularly in educational projects and fund raising concerts organised by the U.N and its specialised agencies. Recent activity includes a performance in a fund raising concert of the ‘’Dare’’ foundation for their project of building an orphanage in Cameroon, and an educational presentation of classical music and string instruments in a refugee camp in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland, followed by a concert.
Dor plays a Goffriler Viola from the 18th century and a Gagliano Violin from the same period, generously made available to him from a private collection.
