Yehuda Gilad

Born and raised on a kibbutz in Israel, Yehuda began his musical education at the age of 16. Following his conservatory studies, he emigrated to the United States to further his education. His former teachers include Giora Feidman, Mitchell Lurie, and Dr. Herbert Zipper. Additionally, he was an active participant in numerous intensive masterclasses with the late Sergiu Celibidache and Leonard Bernstein.

Yehuda is one of the founding members of the Colburn School Conservatory of Music, serving as Music Director of the Colburn Orchestra and Professor of Clarinet for the Colburn Conservatory, the Colburn Community School of Performing Arts, and the Colburn Music Academy. He is Professor of Clarinet at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, and across these two institutions, has developed one of the most sought-after clarinet studios in the world.

His students have achieved top honours in every premier international clarinet competition, and graduates of his studio hold positions in over 150 major orchestras worldwide, including the Cincinnati and Minnesota Orchestras; the New York, Los Angeles, Stockholm, Sweden, Hong Kong, China, and Seoul Philharmonics; San Francisco Opera; the Concertgebauw; and the Orquesta Nacional de España, among others. In 2012, he served as president of the jury for the Carl Nielsen 5th International Clarinet Competition in Odense, Denmark. Yehuda is a recipient of the Distinguished Teacher Award from the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars, the Ramo Award, and USC’s highest honour for excellence in teaching. He was also named one of Musical America’s 2015 Professional Influencers of the Year.

Yehuda is regularly invited to present masterclasses and performances at music conservatories and major festivals around the world, including the Marlboro Music Festival, the Bowdoin International Music Festival, the Crusell Music Festival, the San Francisco Chamber Music Festival, and Santa Barbara’s Music Academy of the West. He founded the Yoav Chamber Ensemble, which performed extensively throughout the United States and recorded for the Orion label, and the Colburn Woodwind Chamber Players, which toured Germany and China.

As Music Director and Conductor of the Colburn Orchestra since its inception in 2003, he has been instrumental in the ensemble’s development from a small string orchestra to a full symphony orchestra. Additional music directorships include the Malibu Strawberry Creek Music Festival (recognised by the County of Los Angeles for its artistic contribution to the community); the 20th Century Unlimited concert series in Santa Fe, New Mexico; the Thornton Chamber Orchestra; the Santa Monica Symphony Orchestra; and the Colonial Symphony of New Jersey. In 1995 and 1996, the colonial orchestra received the Distinguished Arts Organization Award from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for its artistry and programming merits. Mr. Gilad received acclaim from The New York Times for his 'strong imaginative programming' and championing of American and contemporary music.