Igor Zubkovsky started playing cello in his native Russia and first appeared as a soloist with the Minsk State Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of twelve, performing Haydn C Major Cello Concerto. While studying at the Moscow Conservatory, he won top prizes at international competitions, including the Grand Prix at the Tansman Competition in Lodz, Poland. As a member of “Brahms Trio” in Moscow he won Second Prize at the Trapani, Italy and First Prize at the Weimar, Germany International Chamber Music Competitions. With a remarkable record of performances, awards and academic distinctions, Mr. Zubkovsky was awarded a full scholarship to the Peabody Conservatory of Music where he earned a Graduate Performance Diploma.

As a member of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, Mr. Zubkovsky has been acting principal for several WNO productions and most recently played solo cello parts in operas Don Giovanni, Champion (in collaboration with Denise Graves), and Rigoletto (as part of “Justice at the Opera” concert that featured Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg). As a soloist and chamber musician, he has appeared at Merkin Concert Hall in New York and at the prestigious Newport Music Festival, performed recitals in Massachusetts and at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Recent engagements include performances of Brahms Double Concerto with West Chester University Orchestra, Tchaikovsky’s Rococo Variations with Altoona Symphony, series of chamber music concerts in Paris with Marquis Ensemble, performances at the Moscow Conservatory Rachmaninov Hall and trio concerts as part of the “Levine Presents” performance series which were aired on WETA, Washington’s Classical Music Radio station.

Mr. Zubkovsky is the author of numerous arrangements and transcriptions for duets and trios featuring the cello; is the first performer of Cello Sonata by Isaac Mikhnovsky and has several CD recordings to his credit.