Michael Yaaran (Hebrew: מיכאל יערן; Russian: Михаель Яаран) also known as Mikhail Obezchikov is an Israeli musician and was the leader of the Israel Defense Forces Orchestra from 2003 to 2013.

[citation needed] Yaaran was born in Moscow in 1952 and was raised in the city of Bender, Moldovan SSR.

During his childhood, Yaaran began to learn many musical instruments, mainly the accordion.

In his youth, he was enlisted in the Soviet Army and served in the Headquarters Band of the Odessa Military District.

[2] He received his musical education at the Vernadsky State Conservatory in Kishinev and at the University of Tel Aviv following his move to Israel.