Shalev Ad-El was born in Israel in 1968. He has quickly developed a reputation as one of Europe's most sought-after continuo players. As recipient of the AICF scholarships, he graduated from the Royal Conservatory of The Hague and won the first prize at the Francois Shapira Competition in 1987. As a soloist he has played with most of the leading orchestras in Israel including the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, the Israeli Chamber Orchestra, the Haifa Symphony Orchestra, the Kibbutz chamber orchestra etc. He has made numerous radio and TV recordings, both as a conductor and as a harpsichordist, and has given recitals throughout Europe, the Far East, South and Central America, Austria and the USA.

In 1992 together with some leading Norwegian soloists, he founded the choir Oslo Baroque Soloists. Since then he conducted the ensemble among all in festivals in Prague, Mecklenburg, Festival van Flanders in Gent, Brugge festival, Muenster festival, Fasch festival, Dijon, in the Leipziger Gewandhaus, in Israel Festival, in the 92Y of New York and in the Haendel-Festspiele at Halle. 1997-2007 he has been a regular guest conductor at the Philharmonic Orchestra of Halle/Saale, Germany.

1997-2007 he has been a regular guest conductor at the Philharmonic Orchestra of Halle/Saale, Germany. He also conducted Bogota Symphony, Berlin Symphony, Israel Symphony orchestra of Rishon Letzimon (Israel Opera), Netania Orchestra, Israel Chamber orchestra etc.

Ad-El already recorded over 70 CD's for labels such as Chandos (GB), Denon (Japan), Accent, Eufoda and Klara (Belgium), Unacorda (Spain), Stradivarius (Italy), CPO, RAM, Ambitus and HR (Germany) and Koch International (US).

He is also a regular member of Il Gardellino (B), and The Dorian Consort (CH), Stadivarius Soloists of the Berlin Philharmonic and the music director of Accademia Daniel (IL).

Ad-El held regular teaching positions at the Dresden Academy for Early Music (Prof. for the harpsichord 92-93), Brno Masaryk University (92-00) and Boston-University (Prof. for the harpsichord 99) and held master classes among all in Moscow conservatory, Tallinn, Rheinsberg castle, Florida State University, Interlocken MI, Bloomington IN, Longy school of music, Fukuoka festival, Beijing Academy of music, Instituto superior de la Habana, Conservatorio de Lima, Conservatorio de La Paz, La universidad Catolica de Buenos Aires, Academy for performing arts in Hong Kong, Sydney chamber music festival and in UNIRIO of Rio de Janeiro.