Coleman Itzkoff is a renowned cellist who has made a name for himself in the world of classical music. Born on December 22, 1993, in Los Angeles, California, Itzkoff grew up in a family of musicians. His father, Ronald Itzkoff, is a cellist and his mother, Karen Elaine Bakunin, is a pianist. Itzkoff's parents were his first music teachers, and he began playing the cello at the age of four. Itzkoff's talent for the cello was evident from a young age, and he quickly became a prodigy. He studied with renowned cellists such as Lynn Harrell, Ronald Leonard, and Richard Aaron. Itzkoff attended the Colburn School in Los Angeles, where he studied with Andrew Shulman and Clive Greensmith. He later attended the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied with Joel Krosnick. Itzkoff's career as a cellist began to take off when he won the 2012 Irving M. Klein International String Competition. This prestigious competition is open to string players under the age of 23, and Itzkoff was the first cellist to win the competition in over a decade. The win brought Itzkoff national attention and led to numerous performance opportunities. In 2013, Itzkoff made his debut as a soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, performing the Elgar Cello Concerto under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel. The performance was a critical success, and Itzkoff was praised for his virtuosic playing and emotional depth. Itzkoff has since performed with numerous orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony, and the Seattle Symphony. Itzkoff is also an active chamber musician and has performed with some of the world's leading musicians. He is a member of the Itzkoff-Friedman Duo, which he formed with pianist Alin Melik-Adamyan. The duo has performed throughout the United States and Europe and has been praised for their dynamic and expressive performances. In addition to his performing career, Itzkoff is also a dedicated teacher. He has taught at the Colburn School and the Juilliard School, and he currently serves on the faculty of the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music. Itzkoff has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career. In addition to his win at the Irving M. Klein International String Competition, he was a finalist in the 2014 Naumburg International Cello Competition and the 2015 Queen Elisabeth Competition. He was also a recipient of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2017. Itzkoff's playing is characterized by his technical precision, emotional depth, and expressive phrasing. He is known for his ability to connect with audiences and to bring out the emotional core of the music he plays. His repertoire is wide-ranging, and he is equally at home performing the works of Bach and Beethoven as he is performing contemporary music. In conclusion, Coleman Itzkoff is a talented and accomplished cellist who has made a significant impact on the world of classical music. His prodigious talent, dedication to his craft, and expressive playing have earned him numerous accolades and a devoted following. As he continues to perform, teach, and inspire others, Itzkoff is sure to remain a prominent figure in the world of classical music for years to come.

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