Semyon Fridman was born in Russia and studied at Kiev’s Tchaikovsky Conservatory. He then immigrated to the United States where he completed his studies with the very distinguished cellist, Stephen Kates. In 1988, Mr.Fridman made his critically acclaimed NewYork debut at Merkin Concert Hall. In a review of that concert, New York Times critic Allan Kozinn hailed Mr. Fridman’s artistry as a “moving balance of delicacy and power.” Mr. Fridman is recognized as one of today’s premier cellists and chamber musicians. He has twice won first prize at the Concert Artists Guild International Competition in New York: in 1984 as a member of the Bowdoin Trio and, in 1987, as a soloist. Fridman has appeared as a soloist with the Baltimore Symphony and the Kiev State Philharmonic. In recitals and chamber Music performances Mr. Fridman has performed in most major concert halls including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress and many international halls. He has also been a frequent guest artist with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and was featured with Leon Fleisher and the late Virgil Thomson in the PBS documentary “Baton.”
