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.

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.

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.

In parallel with his career as a pianist, Ashkar has developed a growing presence as a conductor. He led the Salzburg Camerata and Kammerakademie Potsdam on a tour of Germany, and conducted the Bergen Philharmonic and the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra in programs featuring works by Mozart and Schumann. He worked regularly with the Jerusalem Symphony, where he conducted major symphonic repertoire including Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, and the complete works for piano and orchestra by Liszt. Recent and upcoming conducting engagements include a Beethoven program with the Württemberg Philharmonic and a joint concert with the Orchestre National de Lyon and the Galilee Chamber Orchestra.

A devoted recitalist and chamber musician, Ashkar is especially noted for his interpretations of Beethoven. He has performed the complete cycle of Beethoven’s piano sonatas in Prague, Duisburg, and at the Konzerthaus Berlin. Recent recital highlights include 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 leads the ensemble both from the podium and the keyboard. 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.

Ashkar currently serves as Assistant Professor of the Practice of Music and Director of the Applied Music Keyboard Program at Brown University.

June 2025 – Please do not edit without permission.