Shlomo Mintz • Patron of Keshet Eilon Shlomo Mintz is one of the foremost violinists, violists and conductors of our time, esteemed for his impeccable musicianship, stylistic versatility and commanding technique. Mr. Mintz regularly appears with the most celebrated orchestras and conductors on the international scene and is heard in recitals and chamber music concerts around the world. He is the recipient of prestigious music prizes including the Premio Accademia Musicale Chigiana, the Diapason D’Or, the Grand Prix du Disque, the Gramophone Award and the Edison Award, and has recorded some 30 prizewinning discs under Warner, DDG and other leading labels. Born in Moscow in 1957, he arrived in Israel with his family at age 2, studying with Ilona Feher and later with Dorothy Delay at Juilliard in New York, guided as well by Maestro Isaac Stern. He debuted as a soloist at age 11 with the Israel Philharmonic, and appeared at Carnegie Hall at age 16 with the Pittsburgh Symphony, marking the beginning of his outstanding career, performing under conductors such as Eugene Ormandy, Antal Doráti, Carlo Maria Giulini, Daniel Barenboim, Ricardo Mutti, Riccardo Muti and Zubin Mehta. Along with giving masterclasses worldwide, Shlomo Mintz has been a jury member of the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow and of the Queen Elisabeth in Brussels, and was president of the jury of the Wieniawski in Poznan, Poland. Since 2002 he has served as president of the jury of the Sion Valais International Violin Competition in Switzerland, and from 2007 as president of the newly established Munetsugu Angel Violin Competition in Nagoya, Japan. He has been appointed principal guest conductor of the Zagreb Philharmonic for four years starting in the 2008-2009 season.