Ofer Pelz studied piano at the Rubin Conservatory in Haifa, and later graduated from the music department of Wizo High School for Arts (1996). In 2002, he began studying at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, graduating with a Master’s degree in composition (with honours) in 2008. He spent the following three years in Paris, during which he studied instrumental and electroacoustic composition with Philippe Leroux, Thierry Blondeau, and Gilles Racot at the Blanc Mesnil Conservatory and the Paris Conservatoire (CNSMDP). He also participated in the ManiFeste Academy Workshop for Computer Music, led by Mauro Lanza and Philippe Manoury. Pelz is currently enrolled in the music composition doctoral programme at Montreal University, working under the supervision of Ana Sokolovic, Caroline Traube, and Robert Normandeau.

Ofer Pelz’s works have been performed in Israel, Europe, the United States, Canada, and Asia, in venues and festivals such as the Pompidou Centre, Radialsystem V (Berlin), Zeitkunst Festival, Venice Biennale, MATA, Asian Contemporary Music Festival, Israel Music Festival (Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem), the Live@CIRMMT Concert Series (Montreal), Stuttgart Theaterhaus, Jerusalem Music Centre, Nuova Consonanza Festival (Rome), and the Heidelberger Biennale für Neue Musik. His music has notably been performed by Meitar Ensemble, Cairn, Israel Contemporary Players, Ardeo Quartet, El Perro Andaluz, Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, and Architek Percussion.

Ofer Pelz has worked with several directors and choreographers, including French choreographer François Raffinot.

Prizes and Grants

• 2015, First Prize in the Mark Kopitman Composition Competition.
• 2015, Finalist in the Feeding Music International Composition Competition (Milan).
• 2012, ACUM Prize (Israeli Performers and Artists’ Rights Association) for Rewind (presented anonymously).
• 2010, Ernst Von Siemens grant for Do Bats Eat Cats ?
• 2010, Second Prize in the Asian Contemporary Music Festival Competition (South Korea).
• 2009, First Prize in the Israel Composers’ League Competition for Young Composers.
• 2008, ACUM “Premiere of the Year” Award for Equilibrium.
• 2007, First Prize in the Chana Avni-Yador Composition Competition for Kmatim.