Artist Spotlight: Yoav Feinberg

Yoav Feinberg is a professional jazz flutist, producer, composer, arranger, musical director and AICF alumnus based in New York City. A recipient of grants from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation and The Israeli Conservatory, he started his career in Tel Aviv, playing in the Israeli music scene’s top jazz clubs.
 
Inspired by greats like Sonny Rollins and Miles Davis, Yoav moved to NYC in 2016 after receiving a scholarship to study at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, where he studied with teachers such as Hal Galper, Robert Sadin, Dave Douglas, Sam Yahel and other incredible musicians. In 2018, he was the jazz musical director of the Tefen Music Festival, an independent music festival in Israel. In 2019, he had the privilege to play at the Bern International Jazz Festival and to perform in Japan with Tokyo-based guitarist Shun Ino. Yoav continues to perform and create music in New York with great passion and dedication. 
 

Photo by Noy Finer

 
What or who inspired you to want to be an artist? 

I was always fascinated by the expressive qualities of music and by its ability to affect people. I feel that art is about projecting our inner selves onto the outer world and that the need to self- express and to connect with others is what holds us together as a diverse society. Playing and composing music is an opportunity to encourage new human interactions and to evoke different thoughts and emotions in people. 
 
What was your creative journey that has brought you to where you are in your career today? 

I started playing music at a very young age, and it has become an integral part of who I am. I grew up playing classical music but I was amazed by the freedom of expression in jazz, and by the opportunity to develop a unique sound as a jazz flautist and a musician. My creative journey has led me to explore various ways in which live music can stimulate a reaction, and its capability to change and adapt to its environment. 
 

Photo by Peter Vit

 
What creative project are you working on now? 

I am currently working on my original compositions and designing experiences that bridge music and technology – I am seeking to find new ways of composing, listening and playing music. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all of my spring shows were canceled and it is still uncertain when it will be possible to perform again. I look forward to the future with a hope that this crisis will be over soon, and I am grateful for being able to create music and continue my work in these difficult times. 
 
What do you need as an artist today? 

I would love to see more people become involved with the arts and to have more opportunities to perform and create. Financial stability and creative freedom are crucial for artists to thrive and evolve – it is great to have AICF’s support and platform to connect with our audience and fellow artists. 

Artist Spotlight: Yoav Feinberg

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