Rafael Skorka, pianist, is the third prize winner of the 1st International Music Competition Harbin China (2018). He learning the piano at the age of 8 with Mrs. Svetlana Pachter at the Karmiel Music Conservatory in Israel. Skorka holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Jerusalem Academy of Music, where he studied with Prof. Asaf Zohar, and both a Master of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM), studying in the studio of Sergei Babayan. In 2018, upon graduating from CIM, Skorka won the Sergei Babayan Prize in Piano, recognizing his outstanding artistic achievements. More recently, Skorka won the piano duo prize and the baroque prize for his performances at the Cleveland International Piano Competition (2021).

Currently, Skorka works as pianist and vocal coach at the Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv and at the Meitar Opera Studio. Furthermore, Skorka performs actively as guest keyboard player at the Israel Philharmonic. Skorka appeared as soloist with many orchestras in Israel, including the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Symphony Orchestra Rishon LeZion, the Tel-Aviv Soloists Ensemble, the Israel Sinfonietta Beer Sheva and the Ashdod Symphony Orchestra. He also took part in several prestigious music festivals, including the Steans Music Institute Program for Piano and Strings at the Ravinia Festival (2009, 2011) and the Verbier Festival Academy in Switzerland (2012). Skorka won a number of competitions in Israel, including the “Piano Forever” Competition in Ashdod (first prize, 2009) and the Voice of Music Young Artists Competition (second prize, 2008). He also received a special grant for outstanding performance in piano in the 2018 Aviv Competitions in Tel-Aviv. Between the years 2003-2014, Skorka has been granted several scholarships by the America-Israel Cultural Foundation.