Ziv Kartaginer is a trumpet player, composer, and arranger whose music blends jazz, classical, Middle Eastern, klezmer, and world traditions. Born in the Jerusalem area to a family with roots in Tunisia, Bulgaria, and Poland, he grew up immersed in klezmer, Balkan, and Middle Eastern music. With a strong background and education in classical and jazz music, Ziv combines these traditions with the sounds and rhythms of his heritage. These diverse musical threads flow through his work, which celebrates the differences between people and cultures, using them as a source of curiosity, learning, and creative exploration, while at the same time, emphasizes the common ground between traditions, weaving influences together to create fresh, inventive, and compelling musical experiences.

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As a composer and arranger, Ziv is known for his versatility, creating works that span genres including classical, jazz, pop, rock, and hip-hop. He has written for the Nu Deco Ensemble and assisted arrangers on projects for the Boston Pops, Metropole Orkest, and other ensembles, helping to shape performances that have reached audiences in large-scale concerts across the United States and Europe. His arrangements and compositions draw from a wide range of traditions, weaving them into inventive, boundary-pushing works that honor heritage while exploring new possibilities.

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As a trumpet player, Ziv has performed internationally, both as a soloist and with ensembles, bringing expressive depth and technical mastery to every performance. Through his playing, composing, and arranging, he seeks to create music that bridges cultures, sparks dialogue, and opens listeners to the beauty of both difference and connection.