Eugene Izotov is one of today’s leading wind players, internationally renowned for his “fiery Russian temperament” (Boston Globe), “ravishing playing” (Washington Post), and “luminous beauty of tone” (San Francisco Chronicle). Appointed by Michael Tilson Thomas in 2014, Eugene Izotov is currently the principal oboist of the San Francisco Symphony. He previously served as the principal oboist of the Metropolitan Opera, appointed by James Levine, and principal oboist of the Chicago Symphony, appointed by Daniel Barenboim.
Eugene Izotov is the first Russian-born musician in history to hold a principal wind position in any major American symphony orchestra. His numerous awards include top prizes at solo competitions in Saint Petersburg (1991), Moscow (1990), New York (1995), and at the Fernand Gillet International Competition (2001).
Izotov has appeared over 50 times as soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, MET Chamber Ensemble, Pacific Music Festival Orchestra, and has collaborated with Bernard Haitink, Valery Gergiev, James Levine, Nicholas McGegan, Riccardo Muti, Edo De Waart, Ludovic Morlot, Ton Koopman, and Michael Tilson Thomas performing works by Mozart, Strauss, Marcello, Haydn, Martinu, Vivaldi, Carter, Hummel, Krommer and Bach. Eugene Izotov has recorded for Sony Classical, BMG, Boston Records, Elektra, CSOResond, SFSMedia, and was a featured soloist with the Chicago Symphony under the baton of John Williams on the Oscar-nominated recording for Steven Spielberg’s film Lincoln. He has also recently been a guest soloist on NPR’s Live from Here with Chris Thile. A prolific chamber musician, Eugene Izotov has collaborated regularly with the MET Chamber Ensemble throughout its residence at Carnegie Hall, as well as with Yefim Bronfman, Pinchas Zukerman, Jamie Laredo, Yo Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Emanuel Ax, André Watts, and the Tokyo String Quartet.
Mr. Izotov teaches at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and has previously served on the faculty of The Juilliard School and DePaul University. One of today’s most prolific teachers, he regularly presents master classes at conservatories across the nation and abroad, such as New World Symphony, Oberlin, Aspen, Juilliard, Colburn, Cleveland Institute of Music, Manhattan School of Music, University of Michigan, HuyndaI Center (Seoul, Korea), Lynn University, Tanglewood Music Center, Domaine Forget (Canada), and Interlochen Center for the Arts. Since 2003 until 2006 Mr. Izotov served on the faculty of the Verbier Festival Orchestra in Switzerland. Since 2005 he continues to serve on the International Principals faculty of the Pacific Music Festival founded by Leonard Bernstein in Sapporo, Japan. Eugene Izotov was the oboe mentor for the 2011 YouTube Symphony Orchestra during its residency at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia which included a live internet simulcast to over 30 million of worldwide viewers. In 2014, Eugene Izotov has joined the woodwind faculty of the Music Academy of the West. Upcoming highlights for 2018/19 include teaching engagements and residencies at the New World Symphony, Cleveland Institute of Music, McGill University, Oberlin College, and Colburn School. Eugene Izotov will be serving as one of the woodwind judges for the 2019 Muri International Competition (Switzerland) as well as the 2019 Tchaikovsky International Competition (Russia). Many of Izotov’s former students are now enjoying careers in leading music conservatories and symphony orchestras of Chicago, San Francisco, New York, Saint Louis, Montreal, Kansas City, Lexington, Ontario, Atlanta, Osaka, Buffalo, and others.
Born in Moscow, Russia, Izotov studied at the Gnesin School of Music with Ivan Pushechnikov and Sergey Velikanov and at Boston University School of Fine Arts with Ralph Gomberg.