Michael Gurfinkel
Artistic Director of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and Director of MG Art Pro, Michael Gurfinkel is an Israeli music professional whose career spans international performance, artistic leadership, and high-level production.
Born in 1960 in Russia into a musical family, he received his earliest training under the guidance of his father. He continued his studies at the Gnessin State Musical Institute in Moscow from 1979 to 1984 in the class of Professor Fedotov. In 1983, he was awarded Second Prize at an international competition, marking the beginning of a distinguished professional path.
He has performed with leading ensembles, including the Borodin Quartet and Moscow Virtuosi under Vladimir Spivakov. From 1986 to 1990, he served as Principal Clarinet and Bass Clarinet of the USSR State Symphony Orchestra under Gennady Rozhdestvensky.
Since relocating to Israel in 1990, he has established a significant presence within the country's musical life. From 1991 to 2025, he held the position of Principal Clarinet with the New Israeli Opera.
From 1994 to 2005, he performed with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under Zubin Mehta, and in 1995, at Maestro Mehta's invitation, he toured Japan with the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.
His artistic collaborations include some of the most distinguished conductors of our time, among them Zubin Mehta, Lorin Maazel, Riccardo Muti, Kurt Masur, Valery Gergiev, and Daniel Oren.
Alongside his continued activity as a chamber musician and pedagogue, Gurfinkel has increasingly focused on artistic direction and the development of international cultural initiatives.
Since 2023, he has served as Artistic Director of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, where he leads a forward-looking artistic strategy aimed at redefining the orchestra's profile. His work is centered on strengthening international partnerships, engaging leading conductors and soloists, and shaping programming that brings together artistic integrity, relevance, and a renewed dialogue with contemporary audiences.