Belgian-Israeli cellist, Liav Kerbel, is increasingly recognized as a versatile and dynamic musician. He performs repertoire ranging from 18th century Baroque to the cutting edge repertoire of the 21st century. An enthusiastic traveler, he has performed as soloist and chamber musician throughout Europe and North America. His playing was described as “inspiring” and “deeply touching” by the great violin virtuoso Maxim Vengerov.

 

He is a major prizewinner at several international competitions, the most recent being the winner at the Manhattan School of Music’s Eisenberg- Fried concerto competition where he performed the Shostakovich cello concerto No.1. He was also awarded the 3rd prize and two special prizes at the Gershwin InternaIonal Strings Competition, which gave him the opportunity to give his in Carnegie Hall- Weill Recital Hall debut in 2018.

 

In June 2016 Liav made his Center for Fine Arts of Brussels debut performing the Brahms Double Concerto together with violinist Maxim Vengerov and the Belgian NaIonal Orchestra. A few years later, he performed Vivaldi’s Double Cello Concerto with the eminent cellist Mischa Maisky, who later described Liav as a “young excepIonal musician”. Other performances include appearances with the Chamber Orchestra of Bulgaria and Nuove Musiche with Tchaikovsky’s Rococo VariaIons and appearances with the Belorussian NaIonal Philharmonic Orchestra, Pleven Symphonic Orchestra and the Flemish Symphony Orchestra.

 

Liav has had the honor to perform for many influenIal musicians including Renaud Capucon, Ivry Gitlis, Clive Greensmith, Frans Helmerson, Steven Isserlis, Hans Jørgen- Jensen, Heinrich Schiff, Ferenc Rados, Jian Wang, Uzi Wiesel, the Borromeo String Quartet and the Talich String Quartet.

A passionate chamber musician, Liav has parIcipated in numerous summer fesIvals including the Perlman Music Program, the Musica Mundi chamber music course and fesIval in Belgium where he had the opportunity to perform the third movement of the R.Schumann piano quartet with the great pianist Menahem Pressler, the fesIval MusicAlp in France and the Verbier FesIval Academy in Switzerland where he received the “Prix Jean- Nicholas Firmenich” for his outstanding performances in the fesIval.

 

Liav started his musical studies in Belgium with Prof. Claudine Steenackers and Prof. Vladimir Perlin. He now holds a Bachelor of Music degree as a recipient of the InternaIonal Advisory Board scholarship at the Manhattan School of Music as a student of Prof. Philippe Muller. In 2021, he graduated from the New England Conservatory with a Master of Music degree under the guidance of Prof. Laurence Lesser.

 

Liav plays on an instrument by Giovanni Battista Cerruti, made in Cremona in 1798, generously granted on an extended loan from the Bank DELEN in Belgium, and a private donor.