The Cleveland International Piano Competition announced today that Yaron Kohlberg has been retained as the President and CEO, effective September 1, 2018. Mr. Kohlberg will direct the overall management and operations of the CIPC and will work with the Board of Directors to implement the organization’s mission to become the preeminent international piano competition in the world.
“We are thrilled to welcome one of our winners back to Cleveland. Yaron has impressed all with his piano virtuosity, outgoing spirit, and indefatigable energy. As a past medalist, he recognizes the critical impact such an accolade has on a professional career. He sees great potential for increasing the prestige and reach of CIPC and is eager to embrace the work necessary to achieve that growth,” said Jill Goubeaux Clark, Chair of the CIPC Board of Directors. “We know he will build a dynamic synergy with our patrons and donors, and we look forward to Yaron’s joining our musical community.”
A native of Israel, Yaron Kohlberg, born in Jerusalem, is among today’s top Israeli pianists. He has played in major halls in forty countries spanning five continents and has more than ten international prizes, including the second prize at the 2007 CIPC. His performances have won critical acclaim, and he was described by international media as “the pianist with the golden hands”. Mr. Kohlberg, who speaks six languages, resides today in China, where he appears regularly in various concerts and giving masterclasses and workshops in Chinese.
In recent years Mr. Kohlberg has teamed up with his friend Bishara Haroni to form the highly successful Duo Amal piano duo. He also cooperates regularly with top musicians and ensembles around the globe. Mr. Kohlberg holds a graduate degree (with distinction) from the Buchmann-Mehta school of music of Tel Aviv University and is a student of the late Luisa Yoffe as well as Eitan Globerson and Arie Vardi. In some of his concerts he combines classical music with new arrangements of popular and world music.