
Saleem Ashkar
“Ashkar’s is an art that disguises art and his performances are among the finest in the catalogue. ”
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Saleem Ashkar made his Carnegie Hall debut at the age of 22 and has since developed a distinguished international profile. In the 2024–25 season alone, he returned to the Orchestre National de Lyon and the St. Louis Symphony, and debuted with the Milwaukee Symphony, showcasing his sustained demand across major orchestras and new audiences.
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Renowned for his interpretations of Beethoven, Ashkar has performed the complete piano sonata cycle in major cities including Berlin and Prague. His six-disc set of Beethoven sonatas on Decca Records solidifies his place among the foremost interpreters of this repertoire, adding to a discography that includes recordings with orchestras such as the Leipzig Gewandhaus and NDR Elbphilharmonie.
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As Artistic Director of the Galilee Chamber Orchestra, Ashkar leads a unique ensemble that fosters collaboration between Arab and Jewish musicians in Israel. Under his direction, the orchestra has performed internationally, including a debut at Carnegie Hall with Joshua Bell and appearances at the Elbphilharmonie Hamburg and Bachfest Leipzig.
Saleem Ashkar made his Carnegie Hall debut at the age of 22 and has since established a distinguished international career, performing with many of the world’s leading orchestras and conductors. In the 2024–25 season, Ashkar returned to the Orchestre National de Lyon with Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider, the St. Louis Symphony with David Afkham, and the Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen with Ariane Matiakh. He also made his debut with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and gave the first of a two-part Schumann recital cycle at Copenhagen’s Queen’s Hall.
Recent concerto engagements included performances with the Bamberger Symphoniker, Gävle Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta de Valencia, Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Brussels Philharmonic, Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the Copenhagen Philharmonic. In 2021, he toured Germany with the Kammerakademie Potsdam, performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2 alongside the world premiere of David Coleman’s Piano Concerto.
Ashkar has performed with the Wiener Philharmoniker, London Symphony Orchestra, Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, as well as with the symphony orchestras of Detroit, Vancouver, and Tokyo. He also toured Australia extensively. His long-standing collaborations with conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, David Afkham, Riccardo Chailly, Jakub Hrůša, Fabio Luisi, Zubin Mehta, Riccardo Muti, Kazushi Ono, and Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider have shaped his musical voice and reputation.
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A devoted recitalist and chamber musician, Ashkar is especially noted for his interpretations of Beethoven. He performed the complete cycle of Beethoven’s piano sonatas in Prague, Duisburg, and at the Konzerthaus Berlin. Recent recital highlights included appearances at Wigmore Hall in London, the Oslo Opera House, Milan’s Verdi Conservatory, Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie, Berlin’s Pierre Boulez Saal, and the Musikverein in Vienna.
As Artistic Director of the Galilee Chamber Orchestra, Ashkar has championed intercultural dialogue through music, uniting Arab and Jewish musicians in Israel. He led the ensemble from both the piano and the podium. In 2022, the orchestra made its Carnegie Hall debut with Joshua Bell and performed at Toronto’s Koerner Hall. A European tour followed, with engagements at the Konzerthaus Berlin and the Rheingau Festival. In the 2024–25 season, the ensemble toured to Germany and Spain, with performances at Bachfest Leipzig, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, and Madrid.
Saleem’s most recent release on Decca Records is the complete Beethoven Piano Sonata cycle, issued over six discs. Previous recordings include the Mendelssohn Piano Concertos with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and Riccardo Chailly, as well as Beethoven’s Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 4 with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra under Ivor Bolton. Saleem currently serves as Assistant Professor of the Practice of Music and Director of the Applied Music Keyboard Program at Brown University.
May 2025 – Please do not edit without permission.
Videos
Programs & Repertoire
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Program I
Robert Schumann: Fantasie in C major, Op. 17
*****
David Coleman: “Accanto a Schumann”
Johannes Brahms: Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op. 5Program II
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 23, Op. 57, "Appassionata"
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major, Op. 110
*****
Robert Schumann: Kreisleriana, Op. 16
Frédéric Chopin: Scherzo No. 3 in C-sharp minor, Op. 39
Chopin: Ballade No. 2 in F major, Op. 38 -
J.S. Bach: Concerto No. 3 in D major BWV 1054 • Concerto No. 5 in F minor BWV 1056
Beethoven:
Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major Op. 15
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major Op. 19
Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor Op. 37
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major Op. 58
Piano Concerto No.5 in E-flat Major, "Emperor" Op. 73
Fantasy in C minor for Piano, Chorus, and Orchestra Op. 80Berg: Chamber Concerto
Brahms:
Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor Op. 15
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major Op. 83Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor Op. 11
Falla: Nights in the Gardens of Spain
Gershwin: Concerto in F
Greig: Piano Concerto in A minor Op. 16
Mendelssohn:
Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor Op. 25
Piano Concerto No. 2 in D minor Op. 40
Rondo Brilliant in E-flat Major for Piano and Orchestra Op. 29Mozart
Piano Concerto No. 9 in E-flat major K. 271
Piano Concerto No. 10 in E-flat major K. 365
Piano Concerto No. 12 in A major K.414
Piano Concerto No. 13 in C major K.415
Piano Concerto No. 14 in E-flat major K.449
Piano Concerto No. 17 in G major K.453
Piano Concerto No. 19 in F major K. 459
Piano Concerto No. 20 in D minor K.466
Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major K.467
Piano Concerto No. 22 in E-flat major K.482
Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major K.488
Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor K.491
Piano Concerto No. 25 in C major K.503Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor Op. 18
Ravel: Piano Concerto for the left hand in D major
Saint-Saëns:
Africa, Fantasy for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 89
Piano Concerto No. 5 in F major Op. 103Schumann: Piano Concerto in A minor Op. 54
Stauss: Burleske in D minor
Tchaikovsky:
Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor Op. 23
Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major Op. 44Please consult with MKI Artists if you’re interested in a concerto not included here.
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Program I
Schumann: Fantasy in C, Op. 17
David Robert Coleman: "Schumann"
Brahms: Piano Sonata in F minor Op. 5Program II
Mendelssohn: Songs without words
R. Schumann: "Frauen Liebe und Leben"
Eric Nathan: "Schumann"
Clara Schumann: Piano Trio Op. 17Program III
Brahms: Piano Quintet op.34
Wang Lu: " Schumann"
Schumann: Piano Quintet op.44