Yuval Shay-El Music | Israeli Composer

Yuval Shay-El (b. 1963) is an Israeli composer whose work blends influences from modern classical music, jazz, and folk into a distinctive musical language. Since 1983, he has written dozens of works for ensembles and orchestras, performed by leading Israeli musicians and ensembles.

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His music has been performed by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra Chamber Series, Musica-Nova Consort, Meitar Ensemble, Modalius Ensemble, Moran Singers Ensemble, Tel-Aviv Renaissance Voices, and Tel-Aviv Soloists Ensemble, among others, and has been broadcast on leading Israeli radio stations.

He holds a master’s degree in composition from Boston University and a PhD in meteorology from Tel-Aviv University. His principal composition teachers included Zvi Harry Nadel, Lukas Foss, and Charles Fussell.

His prominent works include Symphony No. 1 for symphony orchestra (2007), String Quartet No. 2 (2009), Kohelet for mixed choir (2015), Vaahavtem et Hager (2016), Physis (2020), Ruach (2022), and My Oh Snyp for orchestra (2024).

As a jazz musician, he has performed for over 30 years as both trumpet player and pianist and has recorded albums. His latest album, Symphony in Jazz Mode, presents original jazz compositions in a large-scale symphonic form.