Musicזיו קוז'וקרו

Ziv Cojocaru

Ziv Cojocaru is an Israeli composer, conductor, arranger and pianist who heads the Music Division at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

born 1977Contemporary concert musicOrchestral arrangementsConducting Israel Sinfonietta Beersheba

Born: 22 June 1977, Beersheba
Occupation: composer, conductor, music arranger
Education: Bar-Ilan University, Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance

Ziv Cojocaru was born in 1977 in Beersheba

Ziv Cojocaru was born on June 22, 1977, in Beersheba, where he grew up. He began studying piano at the city conservatory.

In his military service he was an arranger, conductor and pianist in the Israeli Air Force orchestra. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in composition and conducting at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. He completed a doctorate in composition at Bar-Ilan University and attended masterclasses abroad.

He joined the faculty of the Jerusalem Academy in 2009 and headed its department of music theory, composition and conducting from 2019 to 2022. From 2018 to 2023 he was conductor in residence of the Israel Sinfonietta Beersheba. Since 2024 he has been composer in residence of the Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion, and he is an associate professor at Ben-Gurion University.

His works have been played at festivals in Europe, Asia and New York, and by many Israeli orchestras and ensembles. He has conducted orchestras in Israel, Austria and Romania. He received the Prime Minister's Award for Composers in 2015 and the ACUM Prize in 2025.

Milestones in Ziv Cojocaru's life

1977
Born in Beersheba.
2009
Joined the faculty of the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance.
2015
Received the Prime Minister's Award for Composers.
2018
Became conductor in residence of the Israel Sinfonietta Beersheba.
2019
Became head of the academy's department of theory, composition and conducting.
2024
Became composer in residence of the Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion.
2025
Received the ACUM Prize.