Israeli percussionist Chen Zimbalista has
dazzled audiences around the world with an
enchanting array of rhythmic sounds that he
cajoles from more than forty instruments,
played with his lightening quick hands, some of
them at the same time.
His music - a euphonious blend of pulses and
beats - defies classification.
A true feast for the senses, his programs are
taken from the classical, blues, jazz and
occasionally from the rock repertoire.
Chen developed his skills in Tel Aviv after he
was inspired by a drummer at a wedding when
he was just five.
 
Among his teachers are Alon Bor of the Israel
Philharmonic, Morris Lang of the New York
Philharmonic, and Bent Lillof of Copenhagen.

A winner of several international competitions,
including the Francois Shapira prize, Chen has
performed at the Kennedy Center, with the
Detroit Symphony Israel Philharmonic Symphonica Brazilera
Ankara Symphony  Schleswig Holstein and
Stresa music festivals,Istanbul music festival to name just a few.
His CD, Desert Beat is issued by
"Koch Discovery" & Music for Marimba & Piano by" Zimbasound"

During 2002-2003 Chen served as the Artistic
Director of Ashdod Orchestra. Since 2004
He is the Artistic Director of the Science and
Music Festival at Weitzman Institute and
The Artistic Director of TAM TAM, an annual
International Percussion Festival.

Chen has commissioned pieces by M.Wiesenberg, B.Nagari, M.Hagerty,
S.Gronich, B.Yusupov, Hadas Goldschmidt Halfon 

mysticism or happenstance, Chen Zimbalista Traces his name to an eastern European
Ancestor who played the cimbalom