Avi Avital

Avi Avital is an Israeli-American mandolinist born in 1978 in Beersheba, southern Israel, widely recognized as a pioneering virtuoso who has elevated the mandolin from a niche folk instrument to a prominent voice in classical music through his innovative performances, commissions, and recordings.

Avital began studying the mandolin at the age of eight in his hometown, quickly joining a local youth orchestra led by Simcha Nathanson, which sparked his passion for the instrument. He later pursued formal training at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and continued his studies with master mandolinist Ugo Orlandi at the Cesare Pollini Conservatory in Padua, Italy, where he honed his technique across classical, Baroque, and contemporary repertoires. Relocating to the United States in his early twenties, Avital established himself in New York City, performing extensively and teaching at institutions such as the Manhattan School of Music.