Lior Michel Virot
“Already from the second love scene, oboist Lior Michel Virot announced himself with a poignant and beautiful solo, making it clear that he would be one of the evening’s principal stars.”
-Tamara Balter, review of Richard Strauss, Ravel and Schubert, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Lahav Shani, published on 17 June 2026.
About
Lior Michel Virot is Principal Oboe of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and Principal English Horn of l'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande.
Born in Switzerland and raised between Swiss and Israeli cultures, he brings a unique artistic perspective shaped by the European classical tradition and Middle Eastern musical heritage.A graduate of the Robert Schumann Hochschule Düsseldorf and the Buchmann–Mehta School of Music at Tel Aviv University, Virot has performed on some of the world’s leading stages, including Carnegie Hall, Berlin Philharmonie, Elbphilharmonie, and Teatro Colón, collaborating with renowned conductors and artists such as Zubin Mehta, Kirill Petrenko, Lahav Shani, Anne-Sophie Mutter, and Martha Argerich.
Performences
Lior Michel Virot has performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, both as an orchestral musician and as a soloist. Alongside his roles with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, he has appeared as guest principal and guest musician with leading ensembles including Teatro alla Scala Orchestra in Milan, Neue Westfalen Philharmonie, and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande.His performances have taken him to renowned concert halls across the world, including Carnegie Hall in New York, Berlin Philharmonie, KKL Luzern, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, Sala São Paulo, the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, and Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires.As a soloist, Virot made his debut with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in 2025, performing Mozart’s Oboe Concerto in C major, K.314 under the baton of Lahav Shani. He has also performed Richard Strauss’s Oboe Concerto with the Neue Westfalen Philharmonie, alongside appearances with the Haifa Symphony Orchestra and the Ra’anana Symphonette Orchestra.
Masterclasses & Teaching
Education is a central part of Virot’s artistic life. Alongside his orchestral career, he has presented masterclasses internationally, including in Dubai as part of the European Foundation for Support of Culture.He currently teaches at the Kiryat Ono Conservatory and the Ra’anana Music Center, working with students ranging from beginners to advanced young musicians preparing for conservatory entrance examinations and professional orchestral auditions.Through his teaching, Virot is dedicated to developing not only technical excellence, but also artistic curiosity, stylistic awareness, and a lifelong passion for music. He strives to inspire the next generation of oboists by sharing his experience as an international orchestral musician and performer.
