VIOLIN & PIANO SALON: Naama Ben Zaken + Shahar Baltsan

Join us for a salon concert with two of Israel's finest young musical talents, violinist Naama Ben Zaken and pianist Shahar Baltsan. They will perform a wide ranging program of 19th and 20th century duo music in an intimate format.

This is your chance to hear two.rising stars who have already performed with orchestras and chamber groups not only throughout Israel but also across Europe. Detailed performer bios below.

PROGRAM

Clara Schumann: Three Romances for violin op.22

Eugene Ysaÿe: Sonata for solo violin no.4

Maurice Ravel: "Ondine" from Gaspard de la Nuit

Johannes Brahms: Sonata for violin and piano no.2 op.100

Ernst Bloch: “Nigun” from “Baal Shem” - three Hasidic images

NOTA BENES:

Doors Open at 7:00. Concert begins at 7:30.

All seating except FRONT ROW is unassigned.

Tickets cannot be refunded but can be transferred to a different attendee.

We recommend buying tickets online whenever possible. Tickets will be available at the door with payment in cash or check only, for $30.

CONGREGATION KEHILLATH ISRAEL is a traditional inclusive synagogue that actively embraces individuals, its community, and the world. An innovative and prominent voice in North American Jewish life since 1917, it is one of Brookline's oldest synagogues.

NAAMA BEN ZAKEN (b. 2005)has completed two years at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music under the guidance of Mila Feldman, and beginning January 2026 will study with Miriam Fried at the New England Conservatory. Naama plays a 1770 Nicholaus Gagliano violin, generously on loan from the late Yehuda Zisapel.

She has been supported by the America-Israel Cultural Foundation scholarships since 2018, receiving the Outstanding Merit Scholarships. She won second prize in the “Keshet Eran” competition (2023), first prize in the Strings Department Competition at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music (2024) and in 2025 she received the Claremont Prize, granted to a single violinist by the Claremont Foundation.She served in the IDF with the status of Outstanding Musician.

Naama has performed across Europe, in all major concert halls in Israel, and on national radio. She is an active member of “Musethica,” and organization bringing classical music to audiences with special needs, and in 2020 premiered a piece written especially for her by Israeli composer Eyal Malkinson.

Naama played in the Young Israel Philharmonic Orchestra of the Jerusalem Music Centre, serving as concertmaster in many projects and outstanding musicians programs. She performed chamber music with guidance from members of the Jerusalem Quartet and musicians of the Israel Philharmonic, and took part in masterclasses with world-class violinists such as Miriam Fried, Paul Biss, Grigory Kalinovsky, Mihaela Martin, David Grimal, Shlomo Mintz and the late Chaim Taub.

As the founder of the Alma Rosé piano quartet, she performed at the Zeist Music Days Festival in the Netherlands, working with members of the Jerusalem Quartet and the Schumann Quartet (Germany). The quartet also toured London, giving a charity concert for the “Peace of Mind” organization supporting Israeli soldiers with PTSD, and worked with pianist Murray Perahia. In 2025 she attended the Kronberg Academy "Good Vibrations" Festival and performed in masterclasses with Vadim Gluzman.

SHAHAR BALTSAN (b. 2005) studies piano in the classes of Assaf Zohar and Arie Vardi at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music (Tel Aviv). He won major prizes in various competitions in Israel, such as "Piano Forever" in Ashdod, the 1st prize at the "Paul Ben-Haim" Competition 2022, 'Kan' Voice of Music-Young Artist Competition 2022, and 1st prize of the "Arianne Katcz" Piano competition at Buchmann-Mehta in May 2025. He performed in many recitals and chamber music concerts, including as a soloist with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, and on national radio.

Shahar began playing the piano at age 6 and studied with Mr. Ron Trachtman at the Israel Conservatory of Music in Tel Aviv. Since 2020, he has been supported by the America-Israel Cultural Foundation with outstanding merit scholarships. Now in his third year of bachelor degree, Shahar also serves in the IDF with the status of Outstanding Musician.

Shahar participated in the Jerusalem Music Centre outstanding musicians programs, in which he took part in Maestro Murray Perahia's special master class program. In addition, he has played in masterclasses with internationally acclaimed artists such as Boris Berman, Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń, Robert Levin, among others. He attended international courses such as the Mannes Summer Piano Festival (USA) and International Music Artistry Goslar (Germany).