Primary Instrument: Cello
Born in Israel, Yoed Nir is a classically trained cellist who began his music studies at the age of seven at the Tel Aviv Conservatory, graduating from the Jerusalem Music Academy in 2005.
He then participated in Master Classes for symphonic and chamber music under the tutelage of such legendary musicians as Daniel Barenboim, Janos Starker, Kurt Masur, Boris Pergamenchikov, Mischa Maisky and Bernard Greenhouse, and won numerous competitions and scholarships, including First Prize at the 2002 International String Competition in Jihlava (Czech Republic). Yoed has since performed throughout Israel and Europe, most notably with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in 2007.
Yoed Nir has also earned an enviable reputation outside classical music circles for his ability to improvise and craft arrangements for Pop, Rock, Jazz and Crossover artists, working on more than 400 albums with such renowned performers as Judy Collins, Paul Banks (Interpol), Regina Spektor, Rufus Wainwright, Diane Birch, Shawn Colvin, Hurt and the singer Yael Naim, for whom he arranged and overdubbed all the string parts on her two most recent albums, the first of which was honored with a 2008 Best World Music Album in France.
In 2007, Yoed Nir decided to base his career in New York, and since that time has performed at a wide variety of the City’s venues, including the Beacon Theatre, Radio City Music Hall, Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall and Merkin Concert Hall. He has also toured with various artists; in Los Angeles at the Kodak Theatre, Greek Theatre and El-Rey Theatres, and at San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall. In July, 2009 he gave two solo recitals at Bargemusic, one of New York’s foremost chamber music venues, performing Bach’s Six Suites for Solo Cello. In February, 2011 Yoed was invited by singer/songwriter Judy Collins to join her for 20 shows during her residency at the Cafe Carlyle, and subsequently arranged and recorded three songs for her latest album, Bohemian. Most recently, he played a solo performance December 4th in the Rose Theatre at Lincoln Center.
Over the past two years, Yoed has appeared as a guest artist on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien (NBC), The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS), Good Morning America (ABC), The Today Show (NBC), and Later with Jools Holland (BBC).
Yoed Nir plays the August Diehl (Hamburg, 1902) cello, on generous loan from The America-Israel Cultural Foundation. He is a Yamaha Performing Artist, playing a Custom Yamaha SVC-210 electric cello.
