tal first

Tal First is the Assistant Principal Violist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Previously, he was a member of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Barenboim, with which he performed in venues including the Salzburg Festival, Lucerne Festival, BBC Proms, Berlin Philharmonie, and Paris Philharmonie. Through his involvement with the Musethica Foundation and the NYC-based Concerts In Motion, First has had the unique opportunity to bring music to audiences unable to attend traditional concert halls.

As a dedicated educator, First has taught at the Perlman Music Program, Juilliard Pre-College, and New York University. In addition, while a student at Juilliard, he served as a teaching fellow for the Ear Training department.

Tal First has performed as a soloist with the Thelma Yellin Symphony Orchestra, the Galilee Symphony Orchestra, and New Zealand’s Sinfonia for Hope. He is also an active chamber musician, having performed at Carnegie Hall, Gabriela Montero at Prager concert series, and more. He holds both a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music degrees from the Juilliard School, studying with Itzhak Perlman and Li Lin, and was supported by the America-Israel Cultural Foundation and the Ronen Foundation.