About Us

Russian born cellist Miron Yampolsky studied cello with the legendary Mstislav Rostropovich for 16 years, first at the Central Music School in Moscow and later at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory. After winning one of the top prizes in the International Chamber Music Competition in Munich, Germany, Mr. Yampolsky performed extensively as an orchestra soloist, in recital, and as a founding member of the Moscow Piano Trio. Leaving the Soviet Union for Israel, he performed as a soloist with the Kol Israel Symphony Orchestra and Haifa Symphony as well as in recitals throughout the country.

After immigrating to the United States in 1974, Mr. Yampolsky was appointed Assistant Principal Cello with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra while also serving as Principal Cello with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra. He made his New York debut at the Alice Tully Hall to rave reviews. Mr. Yampolsky has concertized extensively all over the United States and performed as a soloist with the Baltimore Symphony, Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra and many others. He made radio broadcasts at WQXR and WNYC in New York and WGMS in Washington, DC. Mr. Yampolsky has been invited to perform at the Tanglewood Summer Music Festival and Spoleto USA. He has also performed in local venues such as the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater, Phillips Collection, Dumbarton Church, Lyceum, the Arts Club of Washington and many others.

In 1985, Mr. Yampolsky helped to found and served as a faculty member of the Washington Conservatory of Music. Later he was invited to teach cello and chamber music at the American University and appointed as a conductor of the American University Symphony Orchestra. As an active promoter of contemporary music, he was chosen to give a world premiere of Herman Berlinsky's Sinfonia No.10 for Violoncello and Organ first in Washington National cathedral, later repeated in New York and San Francisco. Mr. Yampolsky is also a recipient of the prestigious Villa Lobos Memorial Medal for his efforts to promote the composer's music in the United States.

Mr. Yampolsky's teaching career spans over 50 years. A number of his students have chosen music as a profession and have continued their education at premiere music schools in the United States and abroad such as Cleveland Institute of Music, Eastman School of Music, Peabody Conservatory, Julliard School, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Yale University School of Music, Carnegie Mellon University School of Music, Royal Northern College of Music (England), and others. Chamber ensembles coached by Mr. Yampolsky have won top prizes at many competitions and some were selected to compete in the prestigious Fischhoff National Chamber Music Competition.

Regardless of their career choice, students of Miron Yampolsky achieve success in music and academics winning music and science competitions, performing solo with orchestras, attending prestigious music festivals and being accepted into the top universities such as MIT, Stanford, Williams College, and Yale among others.

Russian-born violinist Natalia Yampolsky graduated from the Gnessin Moscow Special Music School with a Gold Medal and the Gnessin Russian Music Academy Summa Cum Laude. Studying with distinguished teachers Michail Garlitsky and Irina Svetlova, and renowned virtuoso Grigory Zhislin, she earned her Master's Degree in Violin Performance and Pedagogy from the Gnessin Russian Music Academy.

Upon graduation, Natalia joined the USSR State Maly Symphony Orchestra, and simultaneously was appointed to the chamber music faculty at the Gnessin Russian Music Academy. Touring with the Symphony in over 20 countries, Natalia has performed with such great musicians as Maxim Vengerov, Michail Pletnev, Dmitry Bashkirov, David Geringas, Liana Isakadze, Andrei Korsakov, and conductors Evgeny Svetlanov, Vassily Sinaisky, Yuri Simonov and Vladimir Ponkin, among others.

Since 2000, Natalia has dedicated most of her time to teaching students of various ages and coaching chamber ensembles. Her students have won top prizes at major competitions, performed on the stages of the Kennedy Center and National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., Carnegie Hall and Merkin Hall in New York City, and secured Concertmaster and Section Principal positions in leading youth orchestras. A number of her students have gone on to pursue professional degrees in violin performance and music education from Cleveland Institute of Music, the Juilliard School, Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Northwestern University Bienen School of Music, and Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University.

Students choosing other careers have attended some of the most selective colleges and universities in the country such as Columbia University, Harvard University, Haverford College, Northwestern University, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Virginia and Washington University in St. Louis. They carry on their passion for music to college and beyond, continuing solo studies and playing in orchestras and chamber ensembles.