Acclaimed cellist and VC Artist Zlatomir Fung has been entrusted with the historic 1696 ‘Lord Aylesford’ Stradivari cello, one of the most distinguished instruments of its kind.
The loan, categorized as “Category A” and exclusive to musicians under the age of 35, was awarded at the Nippon Music Foundation’s 30th Instrument Loan Committee Meeting in July 2024. Fung will have the privilege of playing the cello for a period ranging from two to seven years.
The ‘Lord Aylesford’ cello is named after one of its former owners, Lord Aylesford, a notable amateur cellist from London. It was originally brought to London from Italy around 1780 by violinist Felice de Giardini. Over the years, the cello has passed through the hands of several prominent figures, including New York dealer Emil Herrmann and legendary cellist Gregor Piatigorsky. The Nippon Music Foundation acquired the instrument in 2003 from the Werro family.
Esteemed cellists such as János Starker, who played the instrument from 1950 to 1965, and more recently, Danjulo Ishizaka and Pablo Ferrández, have also had the honor of performing with this cello.
Zlatomir Fung, a rising star in the classical music world, boasts an impressive list of accolades. He received the Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship in 2022 and a 2020 Avery Fisher Career Grant. In 2019, Fung made history as the youngest-ever winner of the prestigious Tchaikovsky Competition and the first American to win the title in four decades.
Fung’s achievements also include winning the 2017 Young Concert Artists International Auditions and the 2017 Astral National Auditions. He studied under Richard Aaron and Timothy Eddy at The Juilliard School, further refining his exceptional artistry.
In addition to his academic and competitive success, Fung served as Artist-in-Residence with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra during the 2023/24 season and was named to WXQR’s Artist Propulsion Lab in 2023.
With the ‘Lord Aylesford’ Stradivari now in his hands, Fung continues his journey as one of the most exciting young talents in classical music.
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