Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, pianist Yoheved ‘Veda’ Kaplinsky began her musical career as a prize-winner of the J.S. Bach International Competition in Washington, D.C.

She has made numerous appearances in recitals, in chamber music, and with orchestras, as well as on radio and television in Israel and the U.S. She has given frequent lectures and master classes throughout the U.S., Israel, and Korea. Festivals she has performed and taught at include the Bowdoin Summer Festival, the Aspen Music Festival, Pianofest in Long Island, N.Y., and the Cliburn-T.C.U. Institute, and the Tel Hai Master Classes in Israel. She has served as an adjudicator for international competitions, including the Van Cliburn, Cleveland, Arthur Rubinstein, Dublin, and Tchaikovsky competitions. She received the U.S. Presidential Scholars Teacher Recognition Award in 2003 and was a faculty member at Philadelphia University of the Arts, the Manhattan School of Music, and the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore from 1989/97.

Kaplinsky studied with Ilona Vincze at the Tel Aviv Music Academy, then went on to earn her Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees at Juilliard, under Irwin Freundlich. She also studied with Dorothy Taubman.

Aa faculty member at Juilliard since 1993, chair of the piano department since 1997, and Susan W. Rose Chair since 2000. and a  Pre-College faculty member since 1993. Kaplinsky has been an artistic advisor to the division since 2020 and served as its artistic director from 2007 to 2020.