Ariel Quartet
NEC Honors Ensemble

“To say that they are unusual is an understatement. They are extraordinary and a wonderful
ambassador for our community…”        
Itzhak Perlman

“In a life time of mentoring young quartets, I have never heard a quartet so young, play this well… the sky is the limit!”
Paul Katz
Professor of Cello and Chamber Music, New England Conservatory
Cellist, Cleveland Quartet

“...the music’s poetic mode was captured delightfully!”
Jerusalem Post

“. . . a tour de force displaying the deepest concentration”
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
On the quartet’s German European debut (2004)

The Ariel Quartet was founded in 1998 and was coached by violinist Avi Abramovich, a
leading teacher in Israel, and present head of the string department at the Jerusalem
Academy of Music. Since 2004, the group has been under the tutelage of Paul Katz, Martha
Katz, Kim Kashkashian and other teachers at the New England Conservatory.

Ariel has performed in major venues in Israel and abroad. Their professional debut was in 2000 at the Jerusalem Music Centre, broadcast live on Israel Radio (The Voice of Music). In addition, they performed at the Daniel Days Festival in Holland. In 2002 they performed at the Chopin Academy in Warsaw and participated in the Premio Paolo Borciani String Quartet Competition in Italy. In February 2003 the Quartet won 1st prize in the international competition, “Franz Schubert and the Music of Modernity,” in Graz,Austria. Later that year they participated in the first International Music Festival of Limmasol, Cyprus and performed at the Kaisersaal in Frankfurt, Germany. In 2004 the quartet took part in the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival (Michigan, USA) and performed at the “Musee du Louvre” in Paris, France. Their 2005 tour included venues in the USA, Israel and Germany, as well as a special invitation from the Perlman Music Program to perform at the Neue Galerie in New York City. In May 2006, the quartet was awarded the Grand Prize of the 33rd annual Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition in South Bend, Indiana.

The quartet’s professional studies have included workshops coached by Michael Tree, the Amadeus Summer Course in London (2000-03) and Itzhak Perlman’s chamber music course at Shelter Island (2004-05), by special invitation. The members of the quartet began their advanced studies in 2004 at the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, with support from the America Israel Cultural Foundation, both as individuals and as a quartet. The Ariel Quartet is currently one of the resident ensembles of the Jerusalem Music Centre.

The name Ariel is one of Jerusalem’s synonyms.

The Ariel Quartet:
Alexandra Kazovsky, violin
Gershon Gerchikov, violin
Sergey Tarashchansky, viola
Amit Even-Tov, cello

Alexandra Kazovsky, violin

Born in Moscow (1984).  Began playing violin at age six with Mr. Victor Legoushin in Moscow. Two years later she immigrated with her family to Israel and began studying with Mrs. Ludmila Feldman at the Jerusalem Rubin Conservatory and later at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance.  A recipient of the Veron Foundation’s scholarships (including additional special prizes) since 1993, and the America-Israel Cultural Foundation scholarships since 1997.  Played with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the Yad Harif Chamber Orchestra.  Won 2nd prize at the “Kol Ha Musica” (Israel Broadcasting Authority) Young Artists Competition 2002.  Today Alexandra studies with Miriam Fried at the New England Conservatory in Boston.  She plays on an old Italian violin from Venice about 250 years old, on loan from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation.

Gershon Gerchikov, violin

Born in Israel (1984).  Began studying the violin with Daniel Fradkin, for a brief period with the late Prof. Gershovitz, and then with Ludmila Feldman (Jerusalem Rubin Conservatory and later at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance).  Received scholarships from the Veron Foundation (including additional special prizes) and the America-Israel Cultural Foundation since 1997.  Has performed with several orchestras in Israel, and participated in many master-classes.  Has won a prize in the violinists-composers competition in St. Petersburg, Russia in September 2001.  Gershon studied with Lucy Stolzman, and today with Miriam Fried at the New England Conservatory in Boston.  He plays on a violin made by Petrus Guarneri from Mantua, on loan from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation.

Sergey Tarashchansky, viola

Born in the Ukraine (1985).  Began his music studies with violin at the age of six with Michael Pritzker in Dniepropetrovsk.  Took part in his school’s violinists’ ensemble, which traveled to Slovakia.  In 1996 he won first prize in a local competition.  He then immigrated to Israel and began studying in Ludmila Feldman’s class at the Jerusalem Rubin Conservatory.  In 1998 he started playing viola with late Prof. Simon Basovsky and then with Ludmilla Feldman at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance.  He is a recipient of the Veron Foundation’s scholarships since 1996 and the America-Israel Cultural Foundation since 2001.  Has participated in many master classes with Tabea Zimmerman and others.  In 2005, Sergey played with Itzhak Perlman and Yo-Yo Ma in a benefit concert of the Perlman Music Program.  Last summer he participated in the Perlman Music Program.  Today he studies with Martha Katz at the New England Conservatory of Music.

Amit Even-Tov, cello

Born in Israel (1984).  Began studying the cello at age 6 with Sabina Frankenberg.  Continued studies with Uzi Weisel, Hillel Zori, briefly with the late Prof. Michael Homizer and then with Zvi Plesser, Jerusalem Rubin Academy of Music and Dance. Recipient,  America-Israel Cultural Foundation’s scholarships since 1997 and the Veron Foundation awards since 1993. Played in several chamber ensembles.  Took part in many courses and master classes in Israel and worldwide.  Participated in “Kol Ha Musica” (Israel Broadcasting Authority) Young Artists Competition 2000, and was acknowledged with honors, playing the closing concert at the Jerusalem Theater.  In 2001, won 1st prize at the Paul Ben-Haim competition, and performed throughout Israel as a soloist with the Israel Stage Orchestra.  Won 3rd prize at the Kol Ha Musica Young Artists Competition (2002) and 1st prize in a special Jerusalem Academy competition (January 2003), playing as a soloist with the Academy Orchestra, conducted by Prof. Ilan Schul.  Also performed as a soloist in a special concert with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, broadcast live on Israel Radio.  Today Amit studies with Professor Paul Katz at the New England Conservatory in Boston.