Jacob Reuven | Mandolin

Displaying a unique blend of technical brilliance and a rich musical persona, Israeli mandolinist Jacob Reuven has firmly established himself as one of the most intriguing and sought-after mandolin virtuosos. Jacob’s extensive musical repertoire spans classical, baroque, contemporary, and world music, as well as compositions for modern dance and theater, all infused with his distinctive voice and unwavering commitment to musical excellence.

Highlights from his upcoming performances in the coming seasons include concerts with the Orchestre National de France in two exceptional concerts, as well as performances with the Israel Sinfonietta, the Tel Aviv Soloists, and the Raanana Symphonette Orchestra. Moreover, he will perform at the Konzerthaus Berlin, presenting the European premiere of Avner Dorman’s double concerto with the Berlin Academy of American Music, with yet another premiere awaiting in Estonia, where he will perform Tõnu Kõrvits and Doris Kareva’s “Songs from the Spring of Pain.” Furthermore, he will go on two tours to the USA: the first tour highlights concerts in Connecticut, Detroit, Florida, and Rhode Island, and ends with a studio recording of “Bach and Beethoven” in Boston. The second includes concerts in Knoxville, Milwaukee, Providence, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Boston, in collaboration with many festivals and organizations such as the Guitar Foundation of America, Solstice Guitar Symposium, Rutland and Orangetown Jewish Centers, Boston GuitarFest, Austin Classical Guitar, and Kingston Chamber Music, among others.

As a soloist, Jacob has performed with some of the most esteemed orchestras, including Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, BBC Philharmonic, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra dell’Arena di Verona, Orchestra del Teatro Massimo, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, and Israeli Sinfonietta. He has also taken the stage at renowned international festivals and concert halls, including Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Dresdner Musikfestspiele, Musikfestspiele Potsdam Sanssouci, and Festival International Mandolines de Lunel. Throughout his career, Jacob has had the privilege of collaborating with distinguished conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Mstislav Rostropovitch, Antonio Pappano, Mendi Rodan, Zsolt Nagy, and Omer Meir Wellber.

Jacob states, “My work is dedicated to developing the mandolin—challenging its perceived limits as a solo instrument and expanding its repertoire, as well as nurturing the next generation of mandolin virtuosos. I do this by taking original violin music by composers such as Bach, Ysaÿe, and Paganini, and arranging it for performance on the mandolin. We have 300 years of incredible music literature at our disposal, and we are fortunate that the mandolin and violin share the same tuning. This approach has enabled me to refine my own skills and foster the development of my students.”

Jacob has set new standards in mandolin playing, both in Israel and globally, becoming the first mandolin player to tackle violin repertoire with an orchestra. His performances are characterized by the warmth, richness, and nostalgic flavor of his playing, qualities that have endeared him to both audiences and critics. Jacob’s virtuosic and precise interpretations of solo violin repertoire have solidified his reputation.

A dedicated chamber musician, Jacob has collaborated with various ensembles, including the Jerusalem Quartet and the Vivace Ensemble, among many others. He is a highly regarded mandolin pedagogue and serves as a mandolin teacher at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. His instrument of choice is a custom-made mandolin by Israeli luthier Arik Kerman. Additionally, he is a member of Barrocade: the Israel Baroque Collective, where he frequently takes on the role of soloist. Jacob’s musical pursuits extend even further, as he is a valued member of the award-winning Kerman Mandolin Quartet, Israeli Mandolin Soloists, Duo Mantar, Ensemble Maktub, and the 16 Strings duo.

Jacob embarked on his mandolin journey at the age of eight under the guidance of Prof. Simha Nathanson at the Beer Sheva Music Conservatory. He later continued his studies with Mr. Lev Haimovitch before pursuing further training at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, working closely with Prof. Motti Smidt. During his academic pursuits, Jacob achieved remarkable success, winning the academy’s prestigious Concerto Competition twice in addition to the first prize in the distinguished International Plectro Rioja competition in Spain, marking the beginning of his promising career.