Dov (Dubi) Seltzer (26/01/1932), an Israeli composer and conductor, born in Iasi, Romania, began studying music at an early age. He studied theory and harmony with professors Alfred Mendelssohn and Michael Jora. When Seltzer immigrated to Israel at age 15, a musical comedy he had written continued to be played for two more years, performed by one of Bucharest's professional Youth Theaters. Seltzer finished his high school studies in Kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek in Israel. At the recommendation of the pianist and teacher Frank Peleg, Seltzer was awarded a scholarship to continue his musical studies at the Haifa Conservatory and later in Tel Aviv. At 18 he joined the Israel Defense Forces and was among the founders and the first official composer of the Nachal Musical Theater Group (Lehakat Hanachal). The songs he wrote for the Nachal group, and the hundreds he wrote later on, are considered cornerstones of the Israeli folk and popular Music and are standard repertory on radio and TV worldwide. During his military service, Seltzer received a special grant from the army to pursue studies in composition, harmony and counterpoint with composers Herbert Bruen, Mordechai Seter and professor Abel Erlich. Following his military service, Seltzer studied in the United States at the Mannes College of Music, receiving a diploma in composition, and then at State University of New York, where he earned a B.S. in music, majoring in conducting and composition. Among his teachers were Dr. Felix Salzer, Carl Bamberger, Roy Travis, Noah Sokolof and Robert Starer.
Upon his return to Israel, Dov Seltzer embarked on a continually active musical career, writing in particular for the musical theater. He has also written the music scores for more than 40 full-length feature films, among them Israeli, American, Italian, German and French productions.
Seltzer has to his credit several symphonic works commissioned and performed by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra. He has conducted both orchestras in concerts of his own works – the first Israeli composer to be thus recognized and honored. His works were performed by all the major Israeli orchestras as well as by the New York Philharmonic, the Queens Symphony and the British Chamber Orchestra. His works were conducted and played by artists such as Zubin Mehta, Kurt Masur, Yehudi Menuhin and Yitzhak Perlman.
Dov Seltzer has twice received the Kinor David (Israel's "Oscar") as well as having been presented the Judges' Award by the Israel Composers' Association (ACUM) for Life Achievements. He has also earned numerous other awards during the course of his career. In 2009 he was awarded the Israel Prize[1] for lifetime achievements and contribution to the Israeli Music.