Myrna Herzog
Myrna Herzog (born in Rio de Janeiro, 1 December 1951) is a Brazilian born Israeli musician, player of the viol/viola da gamba and baroque cello, conductor, and researcher in the field of viols. Musician career. Brazilian-born, Myrna started her professional career in 1972, when, with only one and a half years of study of viola da gamba, she was one of the winners of the Young Soloists competition of the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra (OSB). Her first professional ensembles of early music were the groups Kalenda Maya (1970–72) and Pro-Arte Antiqua (1971–74). In 1973, together with  Rosana Lanzelotte, she founded Quadro Cervantes, and in 1983, she founded and directed for 9 years Brazil's first Baroque Orchestra, Academia Antiqua Pro-Arte. In 1992, "The Lady of the viola da gamba" (Jornal do Brasil) immigrated to Israel, where she taught the first generation of sabra viola da gamba players. Dr. Herzog studied viol with Judith Davidoff and Wieland Kuijken. Since 1998, she has been the musical director and conductor of the Ensemble PHOENIX of early instruments. Herzog has also worked in opera, transcribing, editing, casting, directing, and fully staging the 13th-century Play of Daniel and the  Baroque opera La púrpura de la rosa. As a viola da gamba soloist, Myrna has performed in 24 countries, throughout Europe, South America, the US, and Israel. She has participated in the Israeli premiere of the Passions (Bach) with the Israel Philharmonic, performing the viola da gamba solos. Myrna Herzog has recorded for many labels as a conductor and as a performer on the viol, quinton, vielle, baroque cello, and modern cello. She has a doctorate degree in music from Bar-Ilan University and teaches at the Israel Conservatory of Music (Tel Aviv). She has recently taught workshops for conductors  on baroque music in Brazil and at the Royal Academy of Music and Dance, London. Publications. Dr Herzog's articles have appeared in important journals and books; she is a contributor to The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians.