Biography
A career measured in competitions
On stage
Alexander Kaganovsky was born in Kiev, Ukraine.
He had his first music lessons at the age of five; only a few years later he played as a soloist for the first time, and at sixteen he won the Ukraine Competition. He continued his studies at the Tel-Aviv Rubin Academy of Music with Prof. Uzi Wiesel, and won first prize at the Academy’s competition.
In 1985 he was awarded first prize in the Israel Broadcasting competition, and from that year he has also been a member of the acclaimed Israel String Quartet. From 1998 to 2025 he lived and worked in Switzerland; in 2025 he returned to Israel.
His repertoire ranges from the Baroque to contemporary music, and some pieces have been written for him specially. Whenever the music asks for it, he sings — and the audience is meant to hear it.
The years
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Kiev
Born in Kiev, Ukraine. First piano and cello lessons at five.
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Ukraine Competition
Wins the Ukraine Competition at sixteen, after his first appearance as a soloist.
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Tel Aviv
Studies at the Rubin Academy of Music with Prof. Uzi Wiesel; first prize at the Academy’s competition.
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1985
First prize, Israel Broadcasting competition. Joins the Israel String Quartet.
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1982–1998
Principal cellist of the Jerusalem Broadcast Symphony Orchestra and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
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1998–2025
Lives and works in Switzerland. Principal cellist of the Basel Symphony Orchestra, the Bern Symphony Orchestra and European Soloists Luxembourg.
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2025
Returns to Israel.
In detail
Orchestras
He has played as soloist with orchestras in Germany, France, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Holland, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, the United States, South America, Japan, Hungary, Poland, Croatia, Slovakia, Macedonia, Serbia, Armenia, the Czech Republic and Russia.
Festivals
- Klangbogen Festival, Vienna
- Catania Festival, Italy
- Český Krumlov Festival
- Badener Musikfest
- Murten Festival, Switzerland
- Oslo Festival, Norway
- Moscow Spivakov Festival and Masterclass, Russia
- International Festival and Masterclass, Moulin d’Ande, France
- Novosibirsk Festival, Russia
- Carthage Festival, Tunisia
- Bachwochen Thun, Switzerland
- Schubertiade Schnackenburg, Germany
Conductors
- Gary Bertini
- Rudolf Barshai
- Dmitri Kitayenko
- Hughes Wolf
- David Robertson
- Mario Venzago
- Nathan Rachlin
- Andrey Boreyko
- Mendi Rodan
- Arnold Katz
- Ernst Bour
- Stanley Sperber
- Shalom R. Riklis
- Ion Marin
- Christoph König
- Avner Biron
- Charles Groves
- Simon Friedmann
- Pavel Gershtein
- Igor Lerman
- Benjamin Yusupov
- Vahan Mardirossian
Teaching
Professor in master classes and festivals:
- International Music Academy Cremona, Italy
- Moscow Spivakov Festival and Masterclass, Russia
- International Festival and Masterclass, Moulin d’Ande, France
- Rolandseck, Germany
- UNESCO master class under the overall direction of Yehudi Menuhin
Recordings
Recordings for radio and television, and CDs released by ZPEX and J.O.D. Japan, and Kaganovsky Sound, Switzerland.