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In 2005 Eugene Izotov was appointed to the position of principal oboe of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra by Daniel Barenboim, becoming the first Russian-born oboist to achieve this title in any major American symphony orchestra. Mr. Izotov has previously served as the principal oboist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra,  associate principal oboist of the San Francisco Symphony and as principal oboist of the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra and has also performed as guest principal oboist with the Boston Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the New World Symphony Orchestra. Izotov is the First Prize Winner of the 2001 Fernand Gillet International Solo Oboe Competition, a Laureate of the 1995 New York International Competition for Solo Oboe Players, the 1991 Russia Wind Players Competition, and the 1991 New Names International Competition. Mr. Izotov is a frequent soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and has also been a featured soloist with Boston Pops, Kansas City Symphony, United States Army Orchestra, and San Francisco Symphony performing works by Mozart, Strauss, Marcello, Krommer, Hummel and Bach. From 2002 to 2006, Mr. Izotov performed regularly with the MET Chamber Ensemble throughout its annual concert series at Carnegie Hall under the direction of James Levine. Born in Russia in 1973, Izotov began his musical career at the age of six at the Gnesin School of Music in Moscow, and performed extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and North America appearing at Sarasota, Hampden-Sydney, Bowdoin, and Tanglewood Music Festivals where he received the 1995 "Outstanding Wind Player" Award. Izotov is the recipient of the 2001 Distinguished Alumni Award at Boston University where he studied with Ralph Gomberg. Mr. Izotov teaches at DePaul and Roosevelt Universities and has previously taught at the Juilliard School and San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Additionally, he continues to present regular masterclasses at conservatories across the nation and abroad at New World Symphony, Boston University, Manhattan School of Music, San Francisco Conservatory, University of Michigan, University of California, Berkeley, Mannes College, Boston University Tanglewood Institute, and Interlochen Center for the Arts. In 2003 at the invitation of Maestro James Levine, Mr. Izotov joined the woodwind faculty of the Verbier Festival Orchestra in Switzerland. Since 2005 he continues to serve on the International Principals faculty of the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan.

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