Benny Nagari

Born in Tel Aviv in 1950, Benny Nagari started his professional career at age 16 as a flutist, studying with Uri Shoham, the first flutist of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. He subsequently became assistant conductor for maestro Zigi Staderman at the Abu-Gosh festival, and later also an arranger and orchestrator. After many years of working in radio, television, film, and the record industry, he returned to classical music, mainly in composing orchestral music and orchestrating. His works include: Song of Songs – a song cycle for mezzo-soprano, choir, and symphony orchestra; Suite Vollard for trumpet, percussion, and strings; Desert Fantasy for orchestra; Debka for chamber orchestra; and Fantasia Scarlata for string orchestra. He has lived and worked in London since 1990.