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 and the Haifa Symphony Orchestra. He has made numerous radio, TV and CD recordings, both as a conductor and as a harpsichordist, and has given recitals throughout Europe, the Far East, South and Central America, and the USA.

Since 1991 he has conducted the Oslo Baroque Soloists and he conducted as well at festivals in Prague, Mecklenburg, Zerbst, Dijon, Brno, in the Leipziger Gewandhaus, in Israel Festival and in the Haendel-Festspiele at Halle. Since 1997 he is a regular guestconductor at the Philharmonic Orchestra of Halle/Saale, Germany. In 2001 he was invited to conduct the closing concerts of Brugge and Muenster festivals.

Ad-El already recorded over 30 CD's for labels such as Chandos (GB), Denon (Japan) , Accent, Eufoda (Belgium), Unacorda (Spain), Stadivarius (Italy), CPO, RAM, Ambitus (Germany) and Koch International (US).

He is also a regular member of Il Gardellino (B), and The Dorian Consort (CH) 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). He holds annual master-classes also at the Rheinsberg castle (Berlin) since 1992 and in Brezice (Slovenija).