A unique and bold duet, the Brillaner Duo is probably one of the only professional clarinet and piano ensembles. The Duo, a couple both onstage and off, was founded in Israel in 1999. Winning the prestigious Possehl-Prize, the Brillaner Duo was invited to tour Germany (Berliner Philharmonie), Denmark, England, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, Israel, and the USA. Upcoming engagements include a tour in Australia, an illustrious recital at Beethoven’s House in Bonn, a chamber music production for the MDR label and a US tour with Soprano Chen Reiss as the Esprit Trio. The Duo has taken part in the Schleswig-Holstein, Ljubljana, Lübeck and the Eklisia Music Festivals. Recently they have served on the faculty at the Yellow Barn Festival’s Young Artists Program. Ms Brill and Mr. Aner have also collaborated with different leading ensembles such as the Borromeo and the Jerusalem String Quartets, and the Tel Aviv Trio. Their debut CD has met with widespread acclaim since its release in June 2005. The Brillaner Duo can be heard on numerous radio stations, including WQXR in New York, and many prominent radio stations throughout Europe and Israel. The duo has been the recipient of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation and the Ronen Foundation grants.

Shirley Brill’s career was launched with a successful performance as a soloist with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Zubin Mehta. She has been the recipient of numerous international awards, most notably the top prize at the Markneukirchen International Clarinet Competition in Germany (May 2006) and a special prize at the International ARD Competition in Munich. A follower of her world-renowned mentors Sabine Meyer and Richard Stoltzman, Ms Brill belongs to the next generation of solo clarinet performers.

Described as “a chamber musician par excellence” (Frankfurter Rundschau) Jonathan Aner exclusively devotes himself to chamber music. He has won many prizes in prestigious chamber music competitions including the Melbourne International Competition in Australia, the Vittorio Gui Competition in Italy and the Joseph Joachim Competition in Germany. A former member of the internationally acclaimed Tel Aviv Trio and a partner to such leading artists as violists Tabea Zimmermann and Michael Tree (the Guarneri Quartet), Mr. Aner has successfully toured Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia and the USA.