Juilliard Welcomes New Cello Faculty Members

VC Artist Zlatomir Fung and cellist Zvi Plesser will join the school's cello department faculty, effective in the 2024-25 academic year

At The Juilliard School, in New York, Zvi Plesser and Zlatomir Fung will join cello department chair Joel Krosnick, plus cello faculty members Natasha Brofsky, Timothy Eddy, David Finckel, Clara Kim, Astrid Schween, Fred Sherry, and Richard Aaron, among others.

“These additions to the faculty will contribute immeasurably to the excellence and thoughtfulness that we believe characterizes the Juilliard cello department,” said Krosnick.

“Zvi and Zlatomir will bring a commitment to performing at the highest level to their teaching at Juilliard,” said David Serkin Ludwig (Graduate Diploma ’02, composition), dean and director of the Music Division. “The students will benefit immensely from their experience and mentorship, and I’m sure the entire school will be inspired by their passionate artistry.”

The youngest cellist ever to win first prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition, VC Artist Zlatomir Fung made his recital debut at Carnegie Hall in 2021. His recent concerto highlights include his debuts with the New York Philharmonic, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, and the Dallas Symphony, where he played the world premiere of Katherine Balch's whisper concerto. A graduate of Juilliard in 2021, Fung studied at Juilliard with Richard Aaron (faculty 2007-present) and Timothy Eddy (faculty 2001-present). He is currently the artist in residence with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for this season. Additional recent highlights include appearances at the Verbier, Dresden, Janáček May, and Tsinandali festivals; Cello Biennale; La Jolla Chamber Music Society; ChamberFest Cleveland; and the Aspen Music Festival.

Since his debut with the Israel Philharmonic under Asher Fisch, Israeli cellist Zvi Plesser has regularly performed with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, Israel Symphony Orchestra, Jerusalem Camerata, Israel Chamber Orchestra, and Haifa Symphony — in addition to making appearances with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Philharmonic, and Hamburg Symphony Orchestra. He graduated from Juilliard with a certificate under Zara Nelsova in 1993.  As a chamber musician, Plesser has played with the Huberman Quartet and Concertante Chamber Ensemble. He has also served on the faculty of the Perlman Music Program since 2017.