Boris Pigovat (b.1953, Odessa, USSR) studied at the Gnessin Music Institute (Academia of Music) in Moscow. Between 1978 and 1990 he lived in Tadjikistan. In 1988 he won the special distinction diploma at the International Composers Competition in Budapest for his composition "Musica dolorosa No. 2" for Trombone quartet. Boris Pigovat immigrated to Israel in 1990. In 1995 he got the Prize of ACUM (Israeli ASCAP) for his composition Requiem “The Holocaust” . In 2000 he got the prize of Prime Minister of State of Israel. In 2002 he received his Ph.D. degree from Bar-Ilan University (Israel). Many of his works have been performed throughout the world. His composition "Massada" took place at ISCM "World music days 2000" festival in Luxembourg and at WASBE 2003 CONFERENCE in Jönköping (Sweden). The world premiere of Requiem “The Holocaust” for Viola & Symphony Orchestra took place at the Memorial evening dedicated to the Babiy Yar tragedy (Kiev, 2.10.2001, soloist – Rainer Moog). In 2008 this work was performed in Wellington, New Zealand at the Concert of Remembrance 70th Anniversary of Kristallnacht (soloist – Donald Maurice). The CD with this performance was released in 2010 by the label ATOLL (New Zealand). The symphonic picture “Wind of Yemen” was performed at the Asian Music Festival 2003 in Tokyo and at the WASBE 2009 CONFERENCE in Cincinnati (USA). Three of his pieces were performed in New York’s Carnegie Hall: “Prayer”, “Song of the Sea” (world premiere, 2005) and “Jerusalem Voices”. He got 2005 ACUM Prize for “Song of the Sea”.
Among his works are: Oratorio "Eichah" ("Jeremiah's Lamentations") for narrator, soprano, chorus & symphony orchestra(2001); Requiem “The Holocaust” for viola & symphony orchestra (1994-1995); Symphony No.1 "Memorial" for symphony orchestra (1987); Symphony No. 2 for string orchestra (1989/90); "Musica Dolorosa" for chamber orchestra (1987); "Jerusalem" - Fantasia for symphony orchestra (1993); "Tachanun" ("Supplication") for symphony orchestra (1996); “A Song of Ascents” for symphony orchestra (2007); "Magical Garden" for symphony orchestra (2009); "Poem of Dawn" for viola & symphony orchestra (2010);"Massada" - Poem for symphonic wind band (1997); "Wind of Yemen" - Picture for symphonic wind band (2000); “Dies Irae” - Poem for symphonic wind band (2001); “Dedicated to M. Chagall” - Jewish Rhapsody for symphonic wind band (2003); “On Mount Sinai” – Poem for symphonic wind band (2004); “Song of the Sea” – Poem for symphonic wind band (2005); “Four Fairy-Tales” for symphonic wind band (2005), “Lest We Forget” – Poem for symphonic wind band (2009); "Botticelli's "Birth of Venus" for violin & symphony orchestra (1997); "By the Rivers of Babylon" for mixed a-cappella choir (1991); "Nigun" for string orchestra (1996); "Toccata" for string orchestra (1997); “5th Jeremiah’s Lamentation” for string orchestra (2000); “Dedicated to M. Chagall” – Jewish Rhapsody for chamber orchestra (2002) ; Trio for violin, violoncello & piano (1976); Sonata for violin and piano (1980); “Prayer” for violin (or viola) & piano (1994); "Shulamit" for flute, bassoon & harp (1996); "The Wandering Stars" for harp (1996), “Botticelli’s “Spring” for piccolo & harp (2007), “The Short Musical Travel” for two marimbas (2008), Sonata for piano (1988); “Jerusalem” – Poem for piano (1991, Second Edition – 2009), “Nigun” for Solo Viola (2007).
