Jacob Reuven
“ My work is dedicated to developing the mandolin - challenging its limits as a solo instrument and expanding its repertoire, as well as raising the next generation of mandolin virtuosos who can take it further. I do this through arranging the music originally written for violin to be performed on a mandolin. The school I’m coming from is based on learning the original violin music by J.S. Bach, E. Ysaÿe, and N. Paganini and taking it into the mandolin world. This approach has allowed for a big improvement in my skills and is now developing skills of my students. We have 200 years of unbelievable music literature for an instrument and are lucky that mandolin and violin are tuned in exactly the same way, which is a good starting point for arranging the music. This approach allows us to reach a new level of mastery of mandolin. ” — JACOB REUVEN
the String Slinger
Renowned worldwide for his musical integrity and effortless brilliance, Israeli mandolin player Jacob Reuven is one of the most sought-after virtuosos of his instrument. Reuven's broad musical horizons encompass everything from baroque to contemporary music, bringing an exuberance matched with uncompromising musical standards to all he does.
Studying under the guidance of Prof. Simha Nathanson at the Beer Sheva Music Conservatory, and later Prof. Motti Smidt at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, Reuven mastered the interpretations of repertoire for solo violin, consequently becoming the first mandolin player to ever perform violin repertoire on a mandolin with an Israeli orchestra.
His precision and technical mastery, matched by his transcendental performances, have brought Reuven a worldwide following and recognition. He has performed as a soloist at various prestigious international festivals including Dresden Music Festival, Potsdam Sanssouci Music Festival, and Festival Mandolines de Lunel, and he has played under the baton of conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Mstislav Rostropovitch, Antonio Pappano, Mendi Rodan and Zsolt Nagy. Nationally, Reuven has performed as a soloist with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, and the Israeli Sinfonietta, among others.
A highly regarded mandolin pedagogue, Reuven is a mandolin teacher at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, He plays a custom-made mandolin by Israeli luthier Arik Kerman, and is a founder of the award-winning Kerman Mandolin Quartet ,IMS and the 16 Strings duo.