Born in Tel Aviv in 1989, Lahav Shani began his piano studies aged six with Hannah Shalgi, before continuing with Prof. Arie Vardi at the Buchmann-Mehta School of Music. He went on to study conducting under Prof. Christian Ehwald and piano with Prof. Fabio Bidini at the Academy of Music Hanns Eisler, Berlin and was mentored by Daniel Barenboim during his time there.
In February 2023 the Münchner Philharmoniker appointed Lahav Shani as their new Chief Conductor, starting from September 2026. Even before taking up his post officially, he conducts the Munich Philharmonic both in Munich and on tour. In March 2022 Lahav Shani conducted Munich’s Benefit concert in aid of Ukraine at the Isarphilharmonie with Anne-Sophie Mutter and the three orchestras of the city, Bayerisches Staatsorchester, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks and Münchner Philharmoniker. He also conducted the concert marking the 80th anniversary of liberation on May 8, 2025, at Munich's Isarphilharmonie. Under his baton, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the Munich Philharmonic performed Mahler's Sixth Symphony – a memorable event that built cultural bridges and moved audiences deeply. The 2025/26 season also holds significant events in store for the Munich Philharmonic and its designated Chief Conductor: in fall 2025, they went on a European tour with stops in Lucerne, Berlin, Paris, Luxembourg, and Vienna, among other cities. In April 2026, the orchestra and Shani began a 3-year residency at the Festival de Pâques in Aix-en-Provence. In addition to that, the Munich Philharmonic went on tour to Asia under his baton in spring 2026.
In 2020, Lahav Shani began his tenure as Music Director of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, taking over from Zubin Mehta who held the position for 50 years. Shani’s relationship with the orchestra began well over 20 years ago; he debuted with the orchestra aged sixteen, and in 2007 performed Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto under the baton of Zubin Mehta aged eighteen. He then went on to play regularly with the orchestra as a double bassist. In October 2025, he will lead the orchestra on a major tour to the US, with four consecutive performances at New York’s Carnegie Hall.
He has been Chief Conductor of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra from 2026 to 2026.
Shani was previously Principal Guest Conductor of the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. Shani enjoys a close relationship with the Bamberg Symphoniker, since winning the Gustav Mahler International Conducting Competition in 2013.
In the 25/26 season, Shani has been Artist-in-Residence at the Wiener Musikverein, the Philharmonie Essen, and the Kölner Philharmonie. Recent and upcoming guest conductor highlights include engagements with Wiener Philharmoniker, Berliner Philharmoniker, Gewandhaus Orchester, London Symphony Orchestra, Filarmonica della Scala, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris and Philharmonia Orchestra.
Shani also has considerable experience performing chamber music and in recital and is a regular performer at the Verbier Festival and the Jerusalem Chamber Music Festival. He has performed solo recitals at the Klavier-fest Ruhr and the Wiener Konzerthaus, and often performs duo recitals with Martha Argerich. From 2022 – 2025, he was the Exklusivkünstler at the Konzerthaus Dortmund.
As of September 2026
