Born in Haifa, Israel, Ella Milch-Sheriff began her career as a composer at the very young age of 12. During her military service she composed, performed and interpreted her own songs, and it is during this time that she achieved her first success. After having finished the army, Ella returned to classical music studying composition under the direction of Professor Tzvi Avni and graduating in composition from the Rubin Academy of Music at Tel Aviv University.
Photo by Dan Porges Ella studied vocal training under the direction of Professors Tamar Rachum and Daphna Cohen-Licht. Her work as a singer throughout Europe and in Israel coupled with her expertise in linguistics, intimate sensitivity and innate understanding of the human voice, naturally drew her to specialize in Lieder and the music of 20th Century composers.
Ella composes for opera, and has written chamber, orchestral and vocal music as well as popular music and solo works. Her music is performed widely through Israel and Europe and of note, are her refined arrangements of songs by Kurt Weill for mezzo-soprano and chamber orchestra.
"Can Heaven be Void", a work for orchestra based upon the diary of Ella’s father, written during World War II, achieved tremendous success during its premier performances in Israel in March of 2003. Since translated to a number of languages, this piece which had its German premier with the BSO in Berlin in November of 2003, has gone on to enjoy multiple performances with the Duesseldorfer Symphoniker in Düsseldorf in November of 2004 as well as in the United States at the Chautauqua festival in July of 2004.
"Can Heaven be Void" was also recently performed at the Israeli Opera House in Tel-Aviv in commemoration of the 60th anniversary marking the end of World War II.
"Can Heaven be Void" is published by C. F. Peters in Germany.
In 2005, Ella Milch-Sheriff was awarded the prestigious "Israeli Prime-Minister Prize" for her compositional works and the same year, her opera, "And the Rat Laughed" conceived with Nava Semel and based on her book received the "Rosenblume Prize" for achievement. The extraordinary acclaim that this opera received from the press and public alike, ultimately led to its being programmed in the Cameri Theatre and Israel Chamber Orchestra’s annual series, which is currently running.
Ella has just completed a commissioned work for mezzo-soprano and string quartet that is scheduled to be performed by the Audubon Quartet, USA in the United States in July of 2006.
Ella Milch-Sheriff is married to Israeli composer and conductor, Noam Sheriff. They have two sons, Aviv and Tal.
Amongst Ella’s compositions are:
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