Arts Global

Described by Russian press as "one of the most versatile and innovative musicians of his generation", Ian Maksin is quickly gaining international recognition as a cellist, composer and producer.

Born in St Petersburg, Russia, Mr Maksin began playing the cello at age six at the Special School for Gifted Children of the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory. At seventeen, he came to the United States to attend the Manhattan School of Music in New York City and later became the principal cellist of the New World Symphony, America’s one-of-a-kind training orchestra under direction of maestro Michael Tilson Thomas. During that time he had an opportunity to play for such artists with such artists as Lynn Harrell, Mstislav Rostropovich, Bernard Greenhouse, and many others.

In the recent years, Mr Maksin has become increasingly active as a soloist and composer and has been touring regularly throughout the United States and Europe. His live performances have been frequently broadcast on National Public Radio and its affiliate stations throughout the USA, on NBC and PBS national television as well as Polish and Russian TV. He has recently appeared on such shows as Chicago Tonight and Take Five. Maksin’s latest album, Solo Flight, is currently featured on Pandora Radio as well as iTunes internet radio.

Mr Maksin has premiered and recorded numerous works by contemporary composers, including the critically acclaimed CD Sculpting Clouds, which came out on Albany Records in 2007 and featured 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 Cuarteto Latinoamericano. Mr Maksin's debut solo CD, Solo Flight, was 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-based composer Ilya Levinson, as well as a suite for solo cello by Spanish cellist and composer Gaspar Cassado.

In 2011, Mr Maksin founded iAN&ANi DUO – a collaboration with Bulgarian pianist Ani Gogova. Their debut CD is coming out on Blue Griffin Recordings in October of 2012 and will feature music of Piazzolla, Ginastera, Ravel, De Falla as well as world premiere works commissioned by iAN&ANi from Chicago-based composer Ilya Levinson.

Mr Maksin's recent production work includes the award-winning music video Strings Detached, based on music of Rodion Shchedrin, filmed by a Russian director and producer Sergei Kvitko and featuring one of leading young American ballerinas Abigail Simon and iAN&ANi Duo. In the spring of 2012, Mr Maksin co-produced a collaborative music, film and dance project, Tango Obsession, which was sold out for many consecutive nights at the Chopin Theatre in Chicago.

Outside classical music, Mr Maksin has performed and collaborated with such artists as Andrea Bocelli, Gloria Estefan, Sting, Barry Gibb of the former Bee Gees, P. Diddy and Snoop Dogg. He describes his main goal as an artist is "to close the gap between generations and societies through art, and make cello music accessible to everyone".

For further information, please visit Mr Maksin's personal website, www.ianmaksin.com.