After fifteen years with the Jerusalem Quartet, violist Ori Kam will leave the ensemble in October 2025. The news was shared by the Quartet on social media and by Kam himself in a detailed statement on his website.
In his message, Kam reflected on the challenges of recent years, citing “Covid, wars, travel disruptions, and a rapidly changing musical landscape” as factors that made it harder to sustain a common vision within the ensemble. He also referred to personal changes and new professional opportunities, while expressing gratitude to colleagues, management teams, presenters, and audiences worldwide.
The Quartet announced that in the 2025–26 season it will be joined by two guest musicians: Mathis Rochat, who will perform on the North American tours, and Alexander Gordon, who will take part in the European and Israeli concerts.
Born in La Jolla, California, in 1975 to Israeli parents and raised in Israel, Kam studied with Chaim Taub, Pinchas Zukerman, Patinka Kopec, and Wilfried Strehle. From 2004 to 2006 he was a member of the Berliner Philharmoniker. His career includes awards such as the S&R Washington Award grand prize (2010) and recordings for Berlin Classics, Orfeo, and Harmonia Mundi, among others. He has served as professor of viola at the University of Geneva and, since 2024, at the Kunst Universität Graz.
Kam joined the Jerusalem Quartet in 2011, succeeding founding violist Amihai Grosz. With the ensemble, he has toured widely and recorded extensively. Starting in 2025, the Quartet records exclusively for BIS Records.
Kam joined the Jerusalem Quartet in 2011, succeeding founding violist Amihai Grosz. With the ensemble, he has toured widely and recorded extensively. Starting in 2025, the Quartet records exclusively for BIS Records.Subscribe to our newsletter