Shimon Cohen
Shimon Cohen is a composer, pianist, arranger and conductor. Born in Rishon-Lezion, Israel. he is a fourth-generation member of founders of the town. He is a graduate of the Israel Rubin Academy of Music in Tel-Aviv.
He studied composition with Alexander Uriah Boskovich and Paul Ben-Haim, and piano with Emma Gorochov.
His compositions include symphonic works, concerti for solo instruments, chamber music, music for the theater and for feature and documentary films, choral music and songs.
Shimon began his career as a composer, arranger and conductor in “Kol Israel” (The Voice of Israel) Radio. His works have been performed in the USA, Europe and Israel by celebrated orchestras, including the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra (IBA), the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Boston Pops, the Los Angeles Symphony, the London Symphony, the Santa Barbara Orchestra, the Guatemala Orchestra, the Montevideo Philharmonic, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and others, under the batons of renowned conductors, including himself. His songs and arrangements have become staples of the Israeli music scene.
Shimon Cohen is a recipient of the 1998 “Eilam” and “Eshkolot” Prize for life achievement, the Tel-Aviv Municipality Engel Prize in 2001 and the 2005 Festiladino Prize for life achievement in the field of Ladino song and the Israeli Ministry of Culture “Arik Einstein” prize in 2015 for life achievement.