Mordecai Shehori, Pianist

Born into an artistically gifted family in Israel, Mordecai Shehori embraces a rich pianistic tradition that emphasizes a unique physical and spiritual approach to music making, as taught to him early on by the legendary pianist Mindru Katz.  Mr. Shehori came to America to continue his musical studies and graduated from the Juilliard School, under the tutelage of Beveridge Webster, and later studied with Claude Frank at the Mannes College of Music.  Today Mr. Shehori is internationally recognized for his brilliant virtuosity, sophisticated and inspired interpretation, and consummate musicianship.  Having performed and recorded a wide-ranging repertoire, Shehori cites his close collaboration and friendship with Vladimir Horowitz as a significant source of knowledge and inspiration, along with one-on-one sessions with such important pianists as Stefan Askenase (a student of Liszt's disciple Emil von Sauer), Gina Bachauer, Alexis Weissenberg, and violinist Nathan Milstein.
When not concertizing throughout the world, Mordecai Shehori resided for many years in New York City, where he was sought after and admired as a highly skilled teacher.  He devotes much of his time to teaching the art of the piano to students ranging from music lovers to professional pianists, including graduates of the Juilliard School, the Manhattan School of Music, and the Mannes College of Music. 

Recently Mr. Shehori relocated to Las Vegas where he enjoys healthier weather and beautiful mountain views, allowing him to focus more intensely on concert preparations and on producing rare historical recordings of legendary musicians.

Mr. Shehori is the founder and president of Cembal d'amour, a classical music recording company dedicated to the release of rare historical recordings by such legendary figures as Jascha Heifetz, Simon Barere, Henryk Szeryng, Mindru Katz, Bidu Sayao, Berl Senofsky, and David Nadien.

Shehori's annual New York concerts (twenty-seven to date) are eagerly anticipated by a broad audience of musically sophisticated listeners.  "Mr. Shehori has developed a cult following in New York piano circles, for good reason.  He certainly possesses a suitably big technique.  Still, mindless and heartless keyboard fluency is not uncommon nowadays and perhaps never was.  What sets Mr. Shehori apart from most virtuosos with their off-the-shelf performances is the poetic inwardness and rapturous intensity of his playing.”
Donal Henahan, The New York Times.

A genuine Renaissance man, endowed with overwhelming and multi-faceted gifts, Mr. Shehori's uncompromising artistry is evident in every note that he plays.  He possesses the rare ability to bring music to such a high level that it becomes a transcendental experience for the listener.  In this world of music on demand and instant gratification, many pianists' music reaches our ears; Mr. Shehori's touches the inner depths of our soul.

Biographical notes by Charles McLimans