Belgian-Israeli cellist Liav Kerbel was born into a musical family and began his musical journey at an early age, first on the recorder and piano before discovering his artistic voice through the cello. Today, he is active as a soloist and chamber musician, performing a wide-ranging repertoire from Baroque to the 21st century, with concerts throughout Europe and North America.

His playing has been described as “inspiring” and “deeply touching” by violinist Maxim Vengerov.

Liav is a prizewinner of numerous international competitions, including First Prize at the David Geringas International Cello Competition in Klaipėda (2025) and First Prize ex aequo at the Grunewald International Competition in Berlin (2024).

Earlier distinctions include prizes at the Paulo International Cello Competition in Helsinki and the Classic Strings International Competition in Dubai. In 2018, he won the Eisenberg-Fried Concerto Competition at the Manhattan School of Music, making his New York City debut performing Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1.

A defining moment in his early career came in 2016 with his debut at the Center for Fine Arts (BOZAR) in Brussels, where he performed Brahms’ Double Concerto alongside Maxim Vengerov and the Belgian National Orchestra. He later shared the stage with one of his musical idols, Mischa Maisky, in Vivaldi’s Double Cello Concerto, after which Maisky described him as an “exceptional young musician.” Since then, Liav has appeared with numerous orchestras across Europe, including the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Tapiola Sinfonietta, Sinfonia Lahti, I Musici di Parma, and the Flemish Symphony Orchestra, among others.

Chamber music lies at the heart of Liav’s artistic life. He has participated in leading international programs and festivals such as the Ravinia Steans Institute, the Perlman Music Program, Musica Mundi, MusicAlp, and the Verbier Festival Academy, where he was awarded the Prix Jean-Nicolas Firmenich. Through these experiences, he has collaborated closely with artists including Midori, Menahem Pressler, Ivry Gitlis, and David Grimal.

His extensive artistic collaborations include performances with Emanuel Ax, Renaud Capuçon, Clive Greensmith, Frans Helmerson, Steven Isserlis, Hans Jørgen Jensen, Ralph Kirshbaum, Gavriel Lipkind, Arto Noras, Ferenc Rados, Heinrich Schiff, Jian Wang, Uzi Wiesel, and members of the Borromeo and Talich String Quartets.

In 2022, Liav co-founded Duo Chaos with violinist Kristina Georgieva, exploring repertoire built on contrast, dialogue, and risk. Since 2025, he has been a member of Trio Tokava, collaborating with pianist Nadia Azzi and violinist Kristina Georgieva.

Alongside his performing career, Liav is committed to teaching and mentoring young musicians and currently serves as Professor of Chamber Music at the Musica Mundi School in Waterloo, Belgium.

Liav’s musical training reflects a broad and international path. He began his studies in Belgium with Claudine Steenackers and Vladimir Perlin, continued at the Manhattan School of Music with Philippe Muller, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree, and pursued his Master’s degree at the New England Conservatory with Laurence Lesser. He later completed postgraduate studies at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg with Giovanni Gnocchi, and earned an Artist Diploma at the Barenboim–Said Akademie in 2024 under the guidance of Frans Helmerson.

Liav performs on a Giovanni Battista Cerruti cello (Cremona, 1798), generously loaned by Bank DELEN in Belgium and a private donor, and plays with a bow made especially for him in 2025 by Belgian bow maker Victor Bernard.