Serge Oskotsky

SERGE OSKOTSKY has been a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since the 1996/97 season. A native of St.Petersburg, Russia, he began playing piano at the age of five, studying with his mother, renowned piano teacher Svetlana Benenson. At the age of seven, he began studying the cello. Following his studies at the prestigious St. Petersburg Conservatory School of Music, Mr.Oskotsky graduated from the Moscow Conservatory College in 1990.

After coming to the United States, Mr.Oskotsky worked in the San Diego Symphony and San Diego Chamber Orchestra. At the same time, he entered the prestigious Artist Diploma program at the University of Southern California, which he completed in 2000. Mr.Oskotsky was a top prize-winner in a number of competitions, including the Nyirbator Festival Competition in 1989, Hungary; serving as principal cellist with the Festival Orchestra, Moscow Conservatory College Concerto Competition in 1990; Pasadena Instrumental Competition in 1993; the Marina Del Rey Solo Competition, American String Teachers Association Competition in 1994; the Irving Klein International String Competition in 1994; USC Concerto Competition in 1995; and the Antonio Janigro International Cello Competition in 1996.

In 1990 and 1994, Mr.Oskotsky gave recitals at the Summit Music Festival in New York, serving as principal cellist with the Festival Orchestra, and in 1993 he was invited on a full scholarship grant to the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival where he served as principal cellist with the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival Orchestra conducted by Semyon Bychkov and Sir George Solti. In 1995, Mr.Oskotsky was one of twelve cellists participating in the Piatigorsky Seminar. In 1997, he participated in the Savannah International Arts Festival.

Recently, Mr. Oskotsky performed in a faculty chamber music recital at the International Academy of Music, in his native St. Petersburg. He also performed in concerts as part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Chamber Music Society and Los Angeles Philharmonic New Music Group.