Cellist Ian Maksin has been described by the critics as one of the most passionate and versatile players of his generation.  He gave his first cello recital at the age of six in his native St. Petersburg, Russia.  Mr. Maksin has performed as a soloist and as a part of chamber ensembles throughout Russia, Europe, and the Americas.  In the United States, he has given critically acclaimed performances in New York City, Boston, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco, and many other major cities.

Mr. Maksin has appeared in chamber music recitals with such artists as Paula Robison, Andres Diaz, Sergiu Schwartz, The Miami String Quartet, St. Laurence String Quartet, Cuarteto Latinoamericano, and many others.  He appeared in the chamber music series at the Spoleto USA festival in Charleston, Lyric Mountain Festival in Pittsburgh, Summit Music Festival in New York, the Norfolk Music Festival of the Yale University and the Lancaster Music Festival, to name a few.  Several of his live performances and interviews have been broadcast on National Public Radio and its affiliate stations throughout the Unites States.  Mr. Maksin has appeared as a concerto soloist with numerous orchestras throughout the United States and has been the winner of several competitions, including the New World Symphony Competition and the Westmoreland Young Artist Competition..

Ian. Maksin is an avid advocate of new music and has premiered and recorded numerous works by contemporary composers, including a critically acclaimed album “Sculpting Clouds” with works by Eric Ewazen, which came out on Albany Records in 2007.  Also, in 2006 he recorded on the album “Clocks” music by Miguel de Aguila with the celebrated Cuarteto Latinoamericano.

In 2000, Ian Maksin was invited to become member of the New World Symphony, America’s foremost orchestra for young musicians from around the world directed by Michael Tilson Thomas. During his years with the orchestra, Mr. Maksin has performed as the principal cello and appeared as a concerto soloist under the direction of such conductors as Michael Tilson Thomas, Hans Graf, Andreas Delfs, Donald Runnicles, Zdenek Macal, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, Yan Pascal Tortelier, John Adams, Lukas Foss and many others.

In 2006, Mr. Maksin has joined the piano clarinet quartet Ibis Camerata.  The group has been performing and touring extensively with a great critical acclaim.  Besides classical music, Mr. Maksin has been part of many performances and recording projects with such artists as P Diddy, Gloria Estefan, Andrea Bocelli, Cirque du Soleil, Meredith Monk, Phillip Glass, Barry Gibb of the former Bee Gees, and many others.  He has recently become more and more active as a composer himself.  He has composed and produced several independent film soundtracks, one of them nominated at the Philadelphia International Film Festival.  In the Summer of 2008, Ian Maksin will be appearing at the Lollapalooza Music Festival as well as at the Lancaster Festival in Ohio, and the White Nights Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia.

For more information on Ian please visit his website at www.maksin.org.