Named by the press “one of the most versatile and innovative musicians of his generation”, Ian Maksin is quickly gaining international recognition as a cellist, composer and most recently as a film producer. Born in Saint-Petersburg, Russia, Maksin has started playing the cello at age six at the Special School for Gifted Children of the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory. He has performed at concert halls throughout the world as a soloist, chamber musician as well as principal cellist of the New World Symphony under direction of Maestro Michael Tilson Thomas. 

Ian Maksin’s live performances have been frequently broadcast on National Public Radio and its affiliate stations throughout the USA, as well as on NBC and ABC national television. His latest album “Solo Flight” is currently featured on Pandora Radio as well as iTunes internet radio. Maksin has premiered and recorded numerous works by contemporary composers, including a critically acclaimed CD “Sculpting Clouds”. The album came out on Albany Records in 2007 and features works by Juilliard-based award-winning American composer Eric Ewazen. In 2006, he recorded on the album “Clocks” music by Miguel de Aguila, a collaboration with the celebrated Cuarteto Latinoamericano. Ian’s new CD titled “Solo Flight” has been released in January 2010 and is an eclectic compilation of works for cello solo ranging from Bach Cello Suites to a new piece by a Chicago-base composer Ilya Levinson, as well as a suite for solo cello by Spanish cellist and composer Gaspar Cassado. 

Outside classical music, Ian has collaborated with such artists as Andrea Bocelli, Gloria Estefan, Barry Gibb of the former Bee Gees, P. Diddy and Snoop Dogg to name a few. Ian describes his main goal as an artist is “to close the musical gap among generations, cultures and societies and make cello music accessible to everyone”. 

Website: www.ianmaksin.com