Cellist Matt Haimovitz is renowned as a music pioneer, bringing his artistry to concert halls and clubs, outdoor festivals and intimate coffee houses–any place where music can be heard. Haimovitz brings a fresh ear to familiar repertoire, champions new music and initiates groundbreaking collaborations as well as innovative recording projects. He has a tireless touring schedule as well, all while mentoring an award-winning studio of young cellists at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music in Montreal.
At the age of 13, Israeli-born Haimovitz made his debut as soloist, with Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic; at 17, he made his first recording with James Levine and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He made his Carnegie Hall debut when he substituted for his teacher, the legendary Leonard Rose, in Schubert’s String Quintet in C, alongside Isaac Stern, Shlomo Mintz, Pinchas Zukerman and Mstislav Rostropovich.
In 2004, the American Music Center awarded Haimovitz with their Trailblazer Award for his far-reaching contributions to American music; and, in 2006, he received the Concert Music Award from ASCAP for his advocacy of living composers and pioneering spirit. He has also been honored with the Avery Fisher Career Grant, the Grand Prix du Disque, the Diapason d’Or, and is the first cellist ever to receive the prestigious Premio Internazionale “Accademia Musicale Chigiana.”
Haimovitz studied at the Collegiate School and at the Juilliard School, in the final class of Leonard Rose, after which he continued his cello studies with Ronald Leonard and Yo-Yo Ma. In 1996, he received a B.A. magna cum laude from Harvard University. He plays a Venetian cello, made in 1710 by Matteo Gofriller.
Haimovitz returns to Cabrillo to perform Philip Glass Double Concerto for Violin and Cello on Saturday, August 15th.
