Michael Greilsammer

Michael Greilsammer (; born 30 May 1981) is an Israeli violinist, singer-songwriter, and composer. Originally trained as a classical violinist, he became known for fusing diverse musical genres including reggae, Irish folk, rock, Baroque, French chanson, and Mediterranean rhythms. He is a resident of Jerusalem and performs internationally in Hebrew, French, and English.

Early life Greilsammer's parents immigrated to Israel from France and Belgium and are both university professors. He grew up in a traditional-religious, multilingual household with a strong interest in music; all five brothers in the family are musicians.

Greilsammer began studying the violin at the age of five and was considered a child prodigy during his childhood years.

Career

Early career and Black Velvet (2001–2008) In his adolescence, Greilsammer began moving away from classical music toward Irish traditional music, reggae, and rock.

During this period, he also began collaborating with a number of prominent Israeli artists, including Berry Sakharof, Alma Zohar, Hatikva 6, Alon Oleartchik, and Mosh Ben-Ari, joining Ben-Ari's tour Massa-ou-Mattan.

He met his future wife, singer-songwriter Shimrit Dror, through their shared involvement in Black Velvet; the two began a musical collaboration in 2001 when he played violin for Fionola, a band in which Dror sang and wrote songs. Following the album's release, Greilsammer was often referred to in Israel as a "reggae-violinist". The single "Tou dou dou" was entered in the Israeli national pre-selection (*Kdam Eurovision*) for the Eurovision Song Contest. The black-and-white video went viral and received significant media coverage in international outlets including The Hollywood Reporter and The Jerusalem Post.

Nature of Me (2016) and Schusterman residency Greilsammer's third album, Nature of Me, was released in 2016. In 2026, he performed at Confederation House in Jerusalem as part of a new trio show described as a "sonic autobiography", featuring guitarist Assa Bukelman and percussionist Lidor Levy, blending his original compositions with cinematic film scores, Gypsy jazz, and Irish music.

Musical style Greilsammer plays an amplified electric violin and sings in Hebrew, French, and English. His music draws on a wide range of styles including reggae, Irish folk, rock, Baroque, French chanson, and Mediterranean music. He has described the parallels between Irish folk and reggae as central to his creative approach, noting that both genres are rooted in simple, dance-oriented folk traditions. He often integrates violin into reggae bass lines and off-beat rhythms, a technique he has credited with opening international performance opportunities. A recurring theme in his work and live performances is the dialogue and interplay between musical cultures from across the world.

Personal life Greilsammer is married to singer-songwriter Shimrit Dror Greilsammer. They met through the Israeli-Irish band Black Velvet and have three children. They attend Zion, a Masorti synagogue in Jerusalem.

Discography