WHO WE ARE

FOUNDING DIRECTORS

LEILAH DIONE EZRA

Spinto Soprano, has appeared on stages throughout Northern Italy, France, Israel, Canada and the New York metropolitan area in both opera and concert. Her most recent credits include: Cio Cio San in Madama Butterfly, Mimi in La Boheme, The Soprano Soloist in the Verdi Requiem, Giorgetta in Il Tabarro, Blanche de la Force in Dialogues des Carmelites, The Female Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia, among others. Ms. Ezra has appeared as a soloist with the New Israeli Chamber Orchestra, the North Jersey Symphony Orchestra and in Carnegie Hall in a concert with her husband, classical guitarist, Maoz Ezra. She was also the soprano soloist with the Frost symphony orchestra on their album release“An American Dream,”a work by American composer Frank Ticheli, conducted by Zoe Zeniodi and released by Albany Records. In addition to singing, Leilah is the co-founder of the EzraGuitar Conservatory, with locations in Israel and New York City, bringing top level classical guitar and arts education programs to hundreds of students since 2008. Currently, Leilah resides in Raanana, Israel with her husband and their two fabulous daughters.

MAOZ EZRA

When Maoz Ezra was  ten years old, he became acquainted with the amazing world of classical guitar; from that moment on, it  became the center of his life. In Israel he studied it with Yehuda Schreier, and later on he traveled to study it in Paris, and from there he continued to New York city.  Maoz has performed on many stages in France, the USA and Israel. In 2009 he played a solo recital at Carnegie Hall in New York City, after he won the  prestigious “Artists international presentations” award. In 2014 he recorded an album called “East”, tracks from which were played in “Kol Hamusica”- the Israeli classical music radio station.  Beyond being a classical guitar virtuoso and arranger, Maoz has made many contributions in the field of guitar teaching. Inspired by the need of passing the classical guitar tradition to the next generations, Maoz realized the potential of teaching children already  from an early age.  In 2008 he opened a guitar school in New York City  called EzraGuitar. The school, which currently employs about eleven top notch classical guitarists,  is based on teaching materials that Maoz has developed over the years. His ability to  think outside the box and his creative method, is very adaptable to students  and especially  to the natural abilities of young children. Maoz wrote many method books and created many curriculums for students at all levels and managed to open the door even for children as young as four years old.  Maoz’s work has borne fruit: today there are many students at EzraGuitar. Numerous of the advanced students were admitted to high levels music programs in New York city  (such as the prestigious “La Guardia”) and some graduates  managed to receive a university scholarship based on their guitar merit. In recent years, renowned guitarists from around the world have  taught  master classes to EzraGuitar’s advanced students.  Maoz holds a Masters degree in guitar performance and his education includes studies at four of the leading institutions in the world:

Paris: Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris & Conservatoire de mairie de Paris.

New York: Manhattan School of Music & Brooklyn college music conservatory

He studied with a total of nine teachers, some of which are world renowned: Atanas Ourkouzounov, David Starobin, David Leisner, Alberto Ponce , among others.

In 2020 during the pandemic Maoz moved with his family to Israel, and currently resides in Raanana with his wife and  their daughters.

ABOUT EZRAGUITAR

NEW YORK EST. 2008      ISRAEL EST. 2020

Spinto Soprano, has appeared on stages throughout Northern Italy, France, Israel, Canada and the New York metropolitan area in both opera and concert. Her most recent credits include: Cio Cio San in Madama Butterfly, Mimi in La Boheme, The Soprano Soloist in the Verdi Requiem, Giorgetta in Il Tabarro, Blanche de la Force in Dialogues des Carmelites, The Female Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia, among others. Ms. Ezra has appeared as a soloist with the New Israeli Chamber Orchestra, the North Jersey Symphony Orchestra and in Carnegie Hall in a concert with her husband, classical guitarist, Maoz Ezra. She was also the soprano soloist with the Frost symphony orchestra on their album release“An American Dream,”a work by American composer Frank Ticheli, conducted by Zoe Zeniodi and released by Albany Records. In addition to singing, Leilah is the co-founder of the EzraGuitar Conservatory, with locations in Israel and New York City, bringing top level classical guitar and arts education programs to hundreds of students since 2008. Currently, Leilah resides in Raanana, Israel with her husband and their two fabulous daughters.

EzraGuitar2021 WHO WE ARE