Inbal Segev

Here at AICF, we do not just have one talented cellist, we have many! Inbal Segev has been described as “characterized by a strong and warm tone . . . delivered with impressive fluency and style,” by The Strad and “richly inspired” by Gramophone. What makes Inbal stand out the most is her vast repertoire and ability to take on new pieces. What better way to celebrate musical education than with Inbal Segev who challenges the way that an audience sees a cellist.

1) What or who inspired you to want to be an artist?
My mother. She is a pianist and instilled the love of music in me from a young age.

2) What was was your creative journey that has brought you to where
you are in your career today?

I started going to the Mishkenot Sha’ananim Chamber Music Festival in Jerusalem when I was nine years old. That made a huge impression on me. I was the youngest there and very impressed by all that I saw and heard. I think this bi-yearly experience pushed me and gave me the basis to everything I learned later. While at Yale and Juilliard in my 20’s, I learned to love the process of collaborating with ( live) composers. I was, of course, inspired by listening and learning from great cellists such as my old teacher Bernard Greenhouse.

3) What do you need as an artist today?
I recently was given a choice by Maestro Lorin Maazel whether to play Tchaikovsky’s Rococo variations, or a new concerto written by Maximo Flugelman. There was not a moment’s hesitation. I chose the latter. As an artist I need new challenges. I need to learn and grow.

4) What creative project are you working on now?
My husband and I are commissioning a new cello concerto from Israeli composer Avner Dorman. I will premiere the concerto next season with three American orchestras.I  am also working with Grammy winning composer/pianist Fernando Otero on a cello and piano recording. Fernando is Argentinian and his music is infused with Tango and Jazz.

5) Where do you see yourself and your career in 10 years?
I have no idea! But seriously, I hope to continue commissioning new works, to travel more often to Israel to play, and I hope to be playing more with my string trio, Amerigo.

6) What does it mean to you to be an Israeli artist?
I hope I am an ambassador of sorts. I try to show the world what a great country Israel is, how much we care about art, beauty.

7) What does it mean to you to have an organization like AICF available in the art world?
My family couldn’t do without it. Simply, growing up in a lower middle class, single-parent family, we had no car, but I had a decent cello to play on, and the lessons were subsidized by the AICF.

Inbal Segev