In 2006 Clarinetist Tibi Cziger became the first clarinetist ever admitted to the prestigious Artist Diploma program at The Juilliard School, under the guidance of Charles Neidich. He is also the artistic director and founder of the Israeli Chamber Project, an initiative bringing young outstanding Israeli musicians together for chamber music projects in Israel and the US.
Mr. Cziger is a frequent recitalist and soloist and enjoys exploring new repertoire for the clarinet, including his own arrangements to works originally not for the clarinet. Solo appearances include concerti with the Tivoli Symphony Orchestra in Copenhagen, the Israel Chamber Orchestra, the Metropolis Ensemble in New York, and The Israel young Philharmonic, where he was the principal clarinetist 2000-2002. Mr. Cziger was also a substitute clarinetist at the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and collaborated with the Eden and iPalpiti chamber ensembles, and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra in New York.
As a very active chamber musician, Mr. Cziger has performed a vast amount of chamber literature for the clarinet, with various concerts in live and recorded broadcasts on the Israeli National Radio, KUSC, KMZRT, and in tours in Israel, Europe, and the US. He is a co-founder of the Gropius Ensemble, and has collaborated with the ACJW, Metropolis, Link, SEM, and Argento ensembles among others. Recent venues include Merkin Concert Hall, 92Y Hall, Zankel and Weill Hall at Carnegie, Alice Tully Hall, LACMA’s Bing Theatre, The Tel Aviv Museum, and the Jerusalem Music Center.
A winner of various prizes and awards, Mr. Cziger won the Mitchell Lurie Award in Los Angeles, second prize at the Carmel Music Society Competition, first prizes in the Tel Aviv Academy competitions and 2nd prize at the Ben-Haim national competition. Among the different festivals he participated in are the Festival en Brionnais (France), National Repertory Orchestra in Breckenridge, Colorado, the Laureates Festival, the Bowdoin Summer Music Festival, and the West Eastern Divan Workshop, under the baton of Daniel Barenboim in tours across Europe and the USA.
Mr. Cziger holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California where he received an outstanding graduate award, and a B.Mus. degree magna cum laude from the Rubin Music Academy in Tel Aviv. He studied clarinet with Charles Neidich, Yehuda Gilad, and Richard Lesser, and was guided by Emanuel Ax, Michael Tree, Robert Mann, and Hillel Zori among others.
Mr. Cziger is a winner of the Leni Fe Bland Foundation Scholarship, Irene Diamond Scholarship, Jerome L. Greene Scholarship, Sasakawa Young Leaders Fellowship, and the Irving Berlin scholarship. He is also a recipient of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation scholarships 1997-2003, and in 2003 he received the AICF special scholarship for studies abroad.