Daniel Kossov

A professional concertmaster and conductor by the age of 23, Daniel Kossov is a versatile, passionate and charismatic musician. He is a graduate of the prestigious Curtis Institute in Philadelphia and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Leading the orchestra in both schools, he has performed with conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, Kurt Masur, Zubin Mehta, David Zinman and James Levine.

Born in Russia, he soon emigrated to Israel with his musical family; Starting to perform at an early age before leaving to study abroad at 17, Kossov had already concertised with many of Israel's orchestras and made recital and solo appearances in Europe.

At the age of 23, Daniel became Australia's youngest ever concertmaster with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra in Perth and two years later was awarded the Centenary Medal for Advancements in the Arts in recognition of his artistic contributions to the community. He has since served as concertmaster with the Melbourne and Jerusalem symphony orchestras and making guest appearances with the London and Israel Philharmonic orchestras.

A recipient of the Aspen Festival Conducting Fellowship, Daniel has studied with David Zinman, Kurt Masur and Jorma Panula. He has conducted in Israel, Australia, Russia, Finland and more recently, making his French conducting debut with the Strasbourg Philharmonic.

Performing worldwide as a conductor and violinist Kossov's musical language is best described as refreshingly unaffected, sofisticated yet profoundly humble, prefering to draw attention to the clarity of the performance rather than its interpretation. Such approach has not been lost on the critics:

"...took the orchestra through a reading [of Beethoven's 8th symphony] that did not so much engage the attention as grab it in a vice-like grip. If ever there was an instance of a performance bringing the listener face to face with the composer, it was this."

"...master of musical understanding and understatement..."

"...performed the [Mendelssohn violin] concerto with unfailing taste and refinement."

"...Biber's Sonata in E minor, rarely encountered in recital... Kossov shaped the ferocious demands of the score with awesome ease - a curtain raiser of breathtaking accomplishment."