Bio
Pianist Gila Goldstein is known as a versatile musician and has captivated audiences around the world with her unique artistry and soulful interpretations.
Ms. Goldstein has performed as a solo artist and collaborative pianist throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Korea, the Philippines, Europe and Israel.
Her most notable performances included the Berliner Symphoniker, Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion, Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra and Orquesta Da Camera in Mexico City as well as recitals and concerts at Lincoln Center and Merkin Hall in New York City, Progetto Martha Argerich in Lugano, Beijing Concert Hall in China, Seoul National University in Korea, the Purcell Room at the South Bank Center in London, Konzerthaus in Berlin, Musée de Louvre and Cité des Arts in Paris, Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto, Kennedy Center in Washington DC, Old First Church in San Francisco, Gardner Museum and Tsai Performing Center in Boston, Dame Myra Hess concert series, Ravinia’s “Rising Stars” Series and Symphony Hall in Chicago, ”Great Performances“ series in St. Louis, Israel’s Henry Crown Hall in Jerusalem and the Tel Aviv Museum, among others.
A Board member of the American Liszt Society (ALS) and the Founder-President of its New York Chapter since 1992, she has been a frequent guest performer at the ALS annual festivals around the United States and Canada. She also performed at festivals such as Amalfi Coast, High Peaks, Sonus, Colburn, Summit, OpusFest, La Jolla, Yellow Barn, Jewish Music Festivals in Atlanta, Pittsburgh and London and the Israel Festival.
Gila Goldstein has been a sought-after pedagogue for nearly two decades and has given numerous master classes in the USA, Korea, China, Italy and Israel. Previous teaching positions included Boston University School of Music, Boston University Tanglewood Institute, Brown University and New York University. Ms. Goldstein also serves as a guest piano professor at Changzhou University in China.
A champion of the music of Israel’s leading composer Paul Ben-Haim for over two decades as a performer and recording artist, Ms. Goldstein has recorded two volumes of his entire piano and chamber works on the Centaur label. The American Record Guide wrote: ”Goldstein is a charismatic performer who plays with great flair, delicate nuances, fluid tempi and brilliance”. PIANIST magazine in London commended: “Goldstein has a technique as fierce and fiery as the color of her hair”. These recordings mark a significant addition to the commercial releases of Israeli classical music and to the worldwide recordings of 20th century piano music. In addition, Ms. Goldstein has performed and premiered many other works by Israeli composers, number of them were written especially for her.
She obtained her music degrees in piano performance from the Manhattan School of Music where she studied with Prof. Nina Svetlanova and the Tel-Aviv University’s School of Music, where her teacher was Prof. Victor Derevianko. Both her teachers were disciples of the legendary pianist and pedagogue Heinrich Neuhaus.
Teaching Philosophy
Teaching has been a rewarding endeavor for me for many years. I find it very satisfying to contribute to the life and education of young pianists and nurture their talent and passion.
Music is a life-transforming medium of sound and beauty and has the capacity to heal our souls. The larger the number of young musicians we teach, the more beneficial it is to our society.
My ultimate goals are:
1. Helping students to freely communicate their musical expression with the utmost technical ease.
2. Guiding students on how to understand a composer’s musical score in depth.
3. Inspiring students to be creative interpreters and develop their own artistic voice.
I also enjoy expanding the scope of students’ repertoire and opening their eyes and ears to new materials as I think it is essential to their growth. I feel I am part of a greater mission to train the next generation of pianists and guide them towards becoming thoughtful, imaginative, and free-spirited artists.