Yaniv Segal has played violin since the age of four, studying primarily with Setsu Goto. In May, 2003, he graduated from Vassar College with in B.A. in music, where he focused predominantly on conducting and composition. At Vassar, Yaniv co-founded a contemporary music ensemble and was its music director for the past two years. He also conducted various other student performances and musicals, including "The Hamlet Symphony" - a cross-genre student work blending the boundaries of actors and musicians - which was the inaugural show for Vassar's brand new theater.