Willy Weiner

Willy Weiner is an Armenian-Israeli composer, violinist and singer who founded the Menorah Jewish cultural center in Armenia.

born 1955Classical music compositionFounding the Menorah cultural centerLeading Armenia's Jewish community

Born: 25 November 1955, Yerevan
Occupation: composer, violinist, singer, pedagogue
Education: Yerevan's Tchaikovsky Secondary Music School, Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory

Willy Weiner was born in 1955 in Yerevan

Willy Weiner was born on 25 November 1955 in Yerevan to a Jewish family. His father's family had lived in the Netherlands, was deported during World War II and later exiled to North Kazakhstan. His mother, Ida Yerusalimskaya, came from Cherkassy and moved to Yerevan after graduating from Kiev State University in 1953.

He graduated with honors from the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory. There he studied violin with Professor Jean Ter-Merguerian from 1974 to 1979.

He worked as a violinist for many years before turning to composing. He has been active in the Jewish movement since the 1970s and helped create the Jewish community in Armenia, which he headed from 1992 to 1995. In 1994 he founded the Menorah cultural center, which organized festivals and concerts.

In November 1993 his parents and sisters moved to Israel and settled in Akko. He received the title Meritorious Worker of Art of Armenia in 2008 and joined the Israel Composers' League in 2013. He directs the Yerevan State Chamber Choir since 2018 and lives and works in Yerevan.