Michael Kaufman, cello
An exciting cellist exploring various facets of the classical music scene, Michael Kaufman was the soloist for the opening of the renovated Kodak Hall at Eastman Theater and has performed at prestigious venues such as Zankel and Weill Hall at Carnegie. Concerto performances and chamber music engagements have taken him across the United States and Western Europe to festivals such as Open Chamber Music at Prussia Cove, Yellow Barn, Music@Menlo, and Verbier. He enjoys diverse styles of performance projects, including chamber music concerts with Midori, Brett Dean’s 12 Angry Men in Disney Hall at the Piatigorsky Festival, the premiere of a concerto written by Sean Friar with the Eastman Wind Ensemble, and leading as principal cello of La Monnaie in Brussels. Founder and artistic director of Sunset ChamberFest and founding member of the cello quintet SAKURA, Mr. Kaufman champions eclectic juxtapositions of music from the classical and contemporary canon and is an advocate for guiding and cultivating future generations of composers. He received his bachelor’s degree from Eastman under the tutelage of Steven Doane, and his master’s and doctorate degrees from the University of Southern California under the mentorship and guidance of Ralph Kirshbaum. In addition, Mr. Kaufman serves as a faculty member of Loyola Marymount University and maintains a private studio in Los Feliz.
Please visit www.kaufmancello.com for more information.