Jonathan Raber was born in Israel, on February 8, 1972. He was born blonde, cute and completely healthy. In the age of five, living in a small town called Ganei Tsvi, he started his music studies, showing a lot of musicality and sense of rhythm.

 

At the age of fourteen, he became blind as a result of a head tumor. Although he was playing piano on an excellent level for his age, he returned to piano lessons again, as if he was just beginning. Very quickly he showed extraordinary talent and played in public. Over time he performed in concerts around Israel and Canada.

 

In 1992, he began his studies at Rimon School of Music, playing jazz and modern music for the first time. This resulted in a complete change in musical attitude. He began composing and arranging pieces of his own, and performing publicly with his original pieces.

 

In 1996, he finished his studies with honors, and gave a concert in the prestigious Beit Lesin theatre in Tel Aviv. In 1998 he received a scholarship at Berklee College of Music in Boston. He traveled to the United States to study and finished in eighteen months. Jonathan was the first blind student to complete this demanding and intensive program in such a short period of time. It was a difficult year, but he was able to achieve his goal while maintaing the highest grade average in his classes. Jonathan successfully made both cultural and language adjustments to living in the United States. He received his B.A. with the highest honors (Summa cum Laudae) as well and afterwards returned to Israel.

 

Back home Jonathan started performing with local and international musicians throughout the country. He took students as well, sharing with them his own unique understanding of what music is – and can be.

 

Enjoy!