Hailed as “a true artist” by Maestro Mstislav Rostropovich, the young cellist Dmitry Kouzov won the First Prize at the International Beethoven Competition and the New York Cello Society “Rising Star” Award, and is a two-time laureate of Russia’s International “Virtuosi of the Year” Festival-Competition.
Mr. Kouzov has performed on four continents with orchestras, in recitals, and in chamber music performances. He made his New York orchestral début at Alice Tully Hall in 2005 under the baton of Maestro Raymond Leppard, and has performed as soloist with such orchestras as the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra (Russia), the National Symphony of Ukraine, the South Bohemian Chamber Philharmonic (Czech Republic), the Symphony Orchestra Classica (Russia), and the Johannesburg Philharmonic, to name a few.
Mr. Kouzov has performed at such prestigious venues as the 92nd Street Y and Bargemusic (New York City), Ravinia, Caramoor, the Verbier Festival and International Bach Festival (Switzerland), the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival (Germany), the “Janacek May” International Festival (Czech Republic), the “Art-November” International Festival (Russia), and the “Kiev Summer Music Nights” International Festival, among others. He has appeared at the most important venues in his native Russia, including both St. Petersburg Philharmonic Halls, the halls of the Moscow and St. Petersburg Conservatories, and the Mariinsky Theater. He has appeared in command performances before Mikhail Gorbachev and Prince Andrew, Duke of York.
He has collaborated with Joshua Bell, Yuri Bashmet, Krzysztof Penderecki, Donald Weilerstein, Ilya Gringolts, and the Pacifica Quartet, and has performed the complete Brahms and Beethoven Sonatas with his duo partner, pianist Peter Laul.
Mr. Kouzov recently made his recording début on Naxos with three C.P.E. Bach Gamba Sonatas and a recital CD “Two Hundred Years of Cello Masterpieces” on Marquis Classics.
Currently Assistant Professor of Cello at the University of Illinois, Mr. Kouzov was previously on the faculties of Juilliard and the Oberlin Conservatory.
Dmitry Kouzov on YouTube:
“Everything that Dmitry Kouzov played was excellent . . . he did a marvelous job”
—The Washington Post
“His technique is easy and secure, his tone warm and focused. He played with expressiveness and sensitivity . . . ” —Strings Magazine
“This unusually difficult program, the five sonatas of Beethoven, was played with exceptional mastery, deep musicality, perfect taste and style.” —St. Petersburg Musical Herald
“Tchaikovsky's Pezzo-capriccioso showcased the complete mastery of Dmitry Kouzov.” —Palm Beach Daily News
“His heart-felt but unsentimental playing of Schumann's Adagio & Allegro was the finest I have heard live or on record.” —Classical Voice of North Carolina
“Each and every bar was marked with a special purpose to foster both new and original ideas. The performance was defined by a sense of perfect proportion and detailing of articulation and phrasing.” —Mariinsky Theater Newspaper
“Soloist and the orchestra were at one in reflecting both the work's emotional fullness and refinement. This last word also describes the cellist's solo playing of his encore: Bach's Sarabande.” —Beeld, South African National Newspaper
