חבר השופטים
Zeev Steinberg
Israel
I am Zeev (Wolfgang) Steinberg, born November 27th 1918 in Germany. My parents were physicians in Trier/Mosel where I grew up for the first 15 years of my life. My father studied music (violin) at the Academy in Koln and then medicine in Freiburg/Br. He played chamber music all his life - up to his last days in 1967. Thus I heard chamber music at home from early childhood, and started playing the violin at the age of five. The Nazis interrupted my studies (and school), and in March 1934 I came to Israel, to kibbutz Ein Harod, with the Youth Aliya (youth immigration). After 3 years of agricultural work and music making with other amateurs, I came to Tel-Aviv with my future wife. I made my living as a taxi driver - and after a short while started to study music again: violin with Prof. Lorand Fenyves, and viola and composition with Prof. Oedoen Partos, both leading members of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO).
In October 1942, following audition, I was accepted to the IPO as a substitute violist, and after a year - and another audition - I was accepted as a full member of the IPO. In 1970 I became assistant principal violist. In 1985 I went on obligatory retirement, but continued to play with the orchestra for nearly 10 years, first full time and then part time. In 1990 I joined the Israel Chamber Orchestra Ramat Gan as principal violist and advisor to the conductor, a position I still hold.
Shortly after joining the IPO I began playing string quartet: the Israel Mozarteum Quartet, 1943-49; the Polishuk Quartet, 1949-57; the Tel-Aviv Quartet, 1957-59; and finally the Israel String Quartet, 1959-93. With this ensemble we toured Germany, France, the USA, Italy, Japan, Australia, and other countries. Besides the usual quartet repertory, we played much contemporary music, including Israeli works.
I have also, quite often, taken part in ad hoc ensembles, especially playing new works. 23 years ago I helped found the Musica Nova Group, dedicated to performing new works. I am a member of the management committee and the music committee of the triennial International Israeli Harp Competition, in addition to judging in music competitions in Israel. From 1952 on I was employed, till retirement, as teacher of viola and chamber music at the Tel-Aviv Academy of Music at the Tel-Aviv University, from 1956 serving there as Senior Lecturer. I have played as viola soloist with all the Israeli orchestras. I am also a composer, mostly of chamber music, and have made many arrangements, mostly for strings.
In October 1942, following audition, I was accepted to the IPO as a substitute violist, and after a year - and another audition - I was accepted as a full member of the IPO. In 1970 I became assistant principal violist. In 1985 I went on obligatory retirement, but continued to play with the orchestra for nearly 10 years, first full time and then part time. In 1990 I joined the Israel Chamber Orchestra Ramat Gan as principal violist and advisor to the conductor, a position I still hold.
Shortly after joining the IPO I began playing string quartet: the Israel Mozarteum Quartet, 1943-49; the Polishuk Quartet, 1949-57; the Tel-Aviv Quartet, 1957-59; and finally the Israel String Quartet, 1959-93. With this ensemble we toured Germany, France, the USA, Italy, Japan, Australia, and other countries. Besides the usual quartet repertory, we played much contemporary music, including Israeli works.
I have also, quite often, taken part in ad hoc ensembles, especially playing new works. 23 years ago I helped found the Musica Nova Group, dedicated to performing new works. I am a member of the management committee and the music committee of the triennial International Israeli Harp Competition, in addition to judging in music competitions in Israel. From 1952 on I was employed, till retirement, as teacher of viola and chamber music at the Tel-Aviv Academy of Music at the Tel-Aviv University, from 1956 serving there as Senior Lecturer. I have played as viola soloist with all the Israeli orchestras. I am also a composer, mostly of chamber music, and have made many arrangements, mostly for strings.