Pianist Itay Goren’s playing is
described as “an evocative journey from shimmering excitement to calm contemplation” (Classical New Jersey). His performances touch the heart and magically transport the listener’s imagination.

Following his concerts in Germany this past summer of Brahms’ 2nd Piano Concerto with the Tübingen Academic Orchestra, a reviewer from the Schwäbisches Tagblatt wrote: “Most beautiful were his brilliantly glittering high figurations under the shelter of the big climactic orchestral tuttis, a turbulently urging Scherzo, a serenely melodious Andante, all inwardness, where the piano entry with its tones slowly rising from the depth, discovering itself in wonderment, held the 750 listeners spellbound. The distinctive and transparent Hungarian dance motifs of the Finale, in good balance with the orchestra, brought thunderous applause”.

Itay Goren has performed in Europe, Asia, the Pacific and the United States. His recitals in Madrid, Prague, Paris, and New York City were greeted with high acclaim. After his concert at the Festival de Cámera in Villaviciosa de Odon in Spain, a review of the festival characterized his performance as being “especially emotional”. Other notable festival appearances include the Pacific Summer Music Festival in Guam, The American Music Festival in France and the Hindemithon Festival in New Jersey.

Studying music from an early age, Itay continued his education at William Paterson University in New Jersey. Under the guidance of pianist Elka Kirkpatrick, Itay graduated with degrees in both classical and jazz performance and received many honors and awards from the University. Upon graduation he joined the faculty of the music program at Ramapo College of New Jersey where he taught for 11 years.

As a soloist with orchestras Itay performed Beethoven’s 4th Piano Concerto and Chorale Fantasy and Liszt’s Eb major Piano Concerto as well as Mozart’s concertos No. 20 and 14 and Bach’s F minor Concerto which he also conducted from the keyboard. Recent concerto appearances include a stunning performance of Brahms’ 1st Piano Concerto at Drew University with the Central Jersey Symphony Orchestra, and a triumphant rendition of Rachmaninoff’s 2nd Piano Concerto with the Summit Symphony.

Regarded as an inspiring collaborator by fellow musicians, Itay is sought after by many ensembles and soloists. He performs often with the Gabriel Chamber Ensemble and the Madison String Quartet, with whom he concertized last season in the NYC area, at the Schoenberg Center in Vienna, Austria as well as in Germany.

Itay’s repertoire ranges from baroque to contemporary music. In recent seasons he presented works by living composers David Winkler, Richard Sorce and Randall Svane, who wrote and dedicated a new Piano Sonata for Itay.

In 2018 Itay gave recitals in summer festivals in Europe – his second appearance at the Festival de Cámera de Villaviciosa de Odon (Madrid, Spain) and his first at the Rencontres Musicales de Jaugette in France. Both concerts were enthusiastically received with thunderous applause. An article in La Nouvelle Republique in France singled out Itay’s performance – “During these three days of the Musical Encounters of Jaugette, new universes were explored according to the performances of musicians, one more virtuoso than the other. ‘I’m not in the habit to concentrate on the artist when I go to a concert, but here, I almost couldn’t take my eyes off’, confided a spectator, dazzled by the interpretation of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition by pianist Itay Goren.”

Upcoming engagements include solo recitals in NYC and the Metropolitan area, special programs dedicated to Beethoven’s 250th Anniversary and an extensive solo tour of France.