Metropolis Ensemble | Groanbox: Tibi Cziger

PERFORMERS

Tibi Cziger

clarinet

“Cziger’s playing this evening was truly magical and hypnotic. It was the kind of playing that was so involving it seemed to cause time to stand still” (Peninsula Reviews). “Cziger gave a beautifully paced and colorful performance…” (Washington Post).

In 2006 Clarinetist Tibi Cziger became the first clarinetist ever admitted to the prestigious Artist Diploma program at The Juilliard School. He is also the artistic director and founder of the Israeli Chamber Project, an initiative bringing young outstanding Israeli musicians together for chamber music projects in Israel and the United States.

Mr. Cziger is a frequent recitalist and soloist and enjoys exploring new repertoire for the clarinet, including his own arrangements to works originally not for the clarinet. Solo appearances include concerti with the Tivoli Symphony Orchestra in Copenhagen, the Israel Chamber Orchestra, and The Israel young Philharmonic, where he was the principal clarinetist 2000-2002. Mr. Cziger has performed as guest principal clarinetist with the Bergen Philharmonic (Norway), as substitute clarinetist with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and has collaborated with the Eden and iPalpiti chamber ensembles, and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra in New York.

As a passionate chamber musician, Mr. Cziger has performed a vast amount of chamber literature for the clarinet, with various concerts in live and recorded broadcasts on the Israeli National Radio, KUSC, KMZRT, WNYC, and in numerous tours in Israel, Europe, and the US. He is a co-founder of the Gropius Ensemble and has collaborated with the ACJW, Metropolis, Link, SEM, and Argento ensembles among others. Recent venues include Barge Music,The 92Y, Zankel and Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall (New York), The Terrace Theatre at Kennedy Center (Washington DC), LACMA’s Bing Theatre (Los Angeles), The Tel Aviv Museum, Jerusalem Music Center, and the Musikverein (Vienna).

A winner of various prizes and awards, Mr. Cziger won the Mitchell Lurie Award in Los Angeles, second prize at the Carmel Music Society Competition, first prizes in the Tel Aviv Academy competitions and 2nd prize at the Ben-Haim national competition. He is a regular participant at Musique en Brionnais (France), and has also performed at the Tivoli Festival (Denmark), the National Repertory Orchestra, the Bowdoin Summer Music Festival, and the West Eastern Divan Workshop under the baton of Daniel Barenboim in tours across Europe and the USA.

Mr. Cziger holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California where he received an outstanding graduate award, and a B.Mus. degree magna cum laude from the Rubin Music Academy in Tel Aviv. He studied clarinet with Charles Neidich, Yehuda Gilad, Richard Lesser, and Itzhak Kazzap and was guided by Emanuel Ax, Michael Tree, Robert Mann, and Hillel Zori among others.

Mr. Cziger is a winner of the Leni Fe Bland Foundation Scholarship, Irene Diamond Scholarship, Jerome L. Greene Scholarship, Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship, and the Irving Berlin scholarship. He is also a recipient of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation scholarships 1997-2003, and in 2003 he received the AICF special scholarship for studies abroad.