Hilá Karni (violoncello) was born in Tel Aviv in 1975 and started performing in the United States and Europe at a young age. She studied in the US with Bernard Greenhouse who describes her as “one of the most musically sensitive and technically exciting cellists of the younger generation.” Between the years 1997 -2003, she has been studying with Prof. David Geringas in Lübeck and Berlin. Hila has made many festival appearances, among them Schleswig Holstein, Stresa and Ravinia. Her CD recording of Robert Volkmann’s concerto in A- minor with the Hamburg Camerata was received with critical acclaim. In 2001 Hila founded the Esart piano trio in Berlin which has played in halls such as Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Megaron Hall Athen, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Palais des Beaux Arts Brüssel, Kölner Philharmonie, Wigmore Hall London, Carnegie Hall NY and Konzerthaus Wien. Hila performed chamber music with Boris Pergamenschikow, Walter Boeykens, Ralf Gothoni, Bernard Greenhouse, Maxim Vengerov and the Scharoun Ensemble. Performed at the Festival in 2006.