Misha Balan-Dorfman is a Russian-Israeli violist who studied at the Moscow Gnesins Music School with N.M. Fikhtengolts and Prof. E.I. Ozol. In 2009, Misha continued his studies at the Moscow State Conservatory after P. I. Tchaikovsky and has been studying at the Haute Ecole de Musique Lausanne since 2012. In addition, Misha spent several years in Israel, where he not only studied, but also intensively participated in orchestral and chamber music projects.

Among the teachers and mentors during his studies were Prof. L. Shubina, Prof. A. Rudin, Prof.V. Balshin, Prof. A. Zemtsov and Dr. L. Levanon. In February 2022, Misha graduated from Prof. J.R. Adler and Prof. W. Strehle at the Berlin University of the Arts. During his studies he received grants from various Swiss and German foundations, e.g. the Paul Hindemith Society and the Lucia Loeser Foundation. In recent years, Misha has taken part in master classes with many leading viola players, including L.A. Tomter, H. Rohde, H. Schlichtig, H. Knox, N. Imai, N. Mönkemeyer and L. Power.

Festivals in which he took part include Rome Chamber Music Festival, Encuentro Santander, Stavanger Chamber Music Festival, Zermatt Festival, Schiermonnikoog, Musethica and Ponte Ulm Young Talents Festival.

Misha’s orchestra experience consists of participating in orchestral projects of the Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic, working for several seasons with the Dresden Philharmonic and Rundfunk Sinfonieorchester Berlin, appearing as a guest musician with various German and Swiss orchestras.

In 2021, Yehoshua and Margrit Lakner Foundation (Switzerland) awarded the Recognition Prize to Misha.