Sunderman Conservatory of Music Prof. Avner Dorman teaches music theory and composition. His music compositions have won various awards and have been performed by groups such as the Cleveland Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Israel Philharmonic.
Dorman received a Bachelor of Arts from Tel Aviv University, later returning to receive a Master of Arts before receiving his doctorate in composition from the Juilliard School. Studying under Josef Bardanashvili and John Corigliano, Dorman composes energetic music inspired by Middle Eastern and Baroque music. He most enjoys writing for multiple soloists to create a dynamic relationship between them within the music and has more recently ventured into composing music for youth orchestras.
Concerto for Two Violins and Strings, performed by soloists Gil Shaham, Adele Anthony, and Sejong Soloists premiered in April 2025 in Carnegie Hall. This season will premiere “In Flux,” performed by percussionists Trio Colores and the Braunschweig Symphony Orchestra and the Israeli premiere of his work Tanyaderas with the Haifa Symphony Orchestra. Over the course of his career, Dorman has received numerous awards for his works, including the 2018 Azrieli Prize for Jewish Music. He became the youngest composer to win Israel’s Prime Minister’s Award for his Ellef Symphony at 25.
Dorman engages with his students to teach them the technical skills of music composition and its practicality. Through his class, students learn to compose sophisticated polyphonic music that is emotionally and intellectually satisfying. By learning how to distinguish between the structural and the ornamental, students discern the fundamental building blocks that hold a composition together from the embellishments added to make it sound more beautiful than it was.
“I think our students have the advantage of being intellectually curious and studying things from so many different perspectives that it fits well with me,” said Dorman. “I’ve come up with concepts and ideas and theories from centuries ago that they’ve never heard of, and a student will question what I’m saying and point out something I miss.”
Photo provided by Sunderman Conservatory of Music Prof. Avner Dorman
Posted: 06/11/25