Born in 1978, Netanel’s musical talent soon became apparent through his regular appearances as a child soloist in the Jerusalem Great Synagogue with his father, Naftali Hershtik. At the age of seven, he sang with this father in Australia, and throughout America and Europe. Educated at the Horev Yeshiva High School in Jerusalem and in Yeshivat Midbara Ke’eden, Netanel served as an IDF combat paramedic. A graduate of Israel’s Sha’arei Mishpat College of Law he recently completed his L.L.M at the University of Miami School of Law.
His concert appearances, both in Israel and worldwide, include performances with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and the Symphonet Ra’anana, as well as with the world’s leading cantorial male voice choirs as conducted by Itzchak Haimov, Matthew Lazar, and Marc Temerlies. Netanel has performed in the world’s most acclaimed concert halls such as Lincoln Center, the Sydney Opera House and Casino de Paris. Netanel was also the first cantor to be invited to perform at the U.N. in a Holocaust remembrance ceremony in 2006. Netanel’s cantorial style is a blend of his artistic originality as well as his father’s inspiring influence, teaching, and signature cantorial style. His musical education includes graduation from the Tel Aviv Cantorial Institute, as well as training under Cantor Chayim Feifel, Raymond Goldstein and other renowned cantors and musicians.
Netanel released two studio recordings, “Umusafim Kehilchatam,” a tribute to the traditional Shabbat Mussaf service and “Tzad Bet,” a contemporary fusion of jazz, bossa nova and other musical styles. These recordings demonstrate Netanel’s musical versatility as well as his wide range of musical styles.