Nitzan Laster began his cello studies at the age of seven with Professor Shmuel Magen at the Rubin Academy in Jerusalem. Under Magen’s guidance, he was introduced to J.S. Bach’s Six Suites for Solo Cello, which have remained central to his daily practice and artistic development ever since.
Throughout his early years, Laster was mentored by some of the world’s greatest cellists, including Aldo Parisot and János Starker. He made his solo debut in 1990 after winning the Rubin Academy Solo Competition, performing Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C Major. In 1992, he was awarded the prestigious American-Israeli “Keren Sharet” prize—established by Isaac Stern to support outstanding young musicians—which enabled him to continue his studies with Michael Strauss at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Paris.
A dedicated chamber musician, Laster has performed at numerous international festivals, including the Festival of Arts in New York, Spring Festival in St. Petersburg, César Franck Festival in Belgium, and the Israel Festival. He has also appeared on the stages of some of the world’s most renowned concert halls, such as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg.
His discography includes:
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Mendelssohn String Quartets Op. 80 & 81 with the Sharon String Quartet (2006)
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Erwin Schulhoff’s chamber music with the Alma Quartet
Watch on YouTube -
A recent solo recording of J.S. Bach's Cello Suites
In addition to being a member of the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Laster has spent the past years refining his sound, technique, and personal approach to the cello. He is a long-time faculty member at the Language and Music for Life Festival and regularly gives masterclasses around the world.
Nitzan Laster lives in Amsterdam with his family and performs on a fine cello made in 1740 by Andrea Castagneri, from his own personal collection.
