I was born in Kharkiv (then part of the USSR), where my love for music began at an early age. I studied both violin and piano at music college before continuing my education at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. There, I had the privilege of studying with incredible mentors, including G. Ustvolsky, J. Pustilnik, S. Slonimsky, V. Maisky, M. Druskin, and E. Ruchevsky. One of my proudest moments as a student was being awarded in the vocal reading competition of the Fugues by J.S. Bach—a challenge that deepened my appreciation for counterpoint and structure in music.
Later, my compositions were performed in theaters across the USSR, including St. Petersburg (Leningrad), Moscow, Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Viborg.
But in 1991, I made a life-changing decision—I emigrated to Israel, searching not only for a new home but also for a deeper purpose in my music. There, I found both in King David’s Children, an ensemble of 45 children, most of them immigrants like myself, all searching for their roots. Leading this group felt like bringing together the missing pieces of a puzzle.
For 19 years, I was the composer behind all of the ensemble’s concert programs, continuously creating and renewing its repertoire. Through traditional Jewish songs in Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino, Russian, Yemenite, Spanish, and English, we told stories that transcended generations.
Since 1991, King David’s Children has performed nearly 3,000 times across Israel, Europe, and the USA. Our music even reached world leaders, who came to see the future of our people singing the songs of the past. I am deeply honored that my original arrangements for the ensemble have received widespread recognition, with media coverage and even two documentary films (1995 by M. Golan, 2003 by T. Schwarcz) capturing our journey.
Beyond my work with the ensemble, I have released several solo albums featuring original compositions—a unique folk style deeply influenced by Spanish and Middle Eastern rhythms. This music led to two Honorable Mentions in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest (2002, 2003) and recognition as a Laureate and twice Finalist of the international Song of the Year competition (2007-2022, USA).
Over the years, my love for music has expanded into a love for languages—English, Russian, Italian, Spanish, and Hebrew—as well as the intricate relationship between music and poetry. I became a member of the Writers’ Union of North America. In the past decade, my compositions have reached international audiences, with performances in the USA, Germany, Poland, and Russia. I have also composed and arranged music for films, theater, and several musicals, bringing stories to life through melody.