SAN FRANCISCO, CA — The San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) today announces the appointment of oboist Eugene Izotov to its faculty. Currently principal oboe at the San Francisco Symphony, Izotov has garnered critical acclaim for his interpretations of symphonic and solo repertoire. His appointment comes amid several recent additions to SFCM’s faculty, including vocalists Deborah Voigt and Susanne Mentzer, as well as conductor Eric Dudley.

"We are thrilled to welcome Eugene Izotov to our faculty. As a world-class oboist and teacher, his expertise will be a great asset to our students and to the whole school," says SFCM Provost and Dean Kate Sheeran. "Eugene will join twenty-five of his San Francisco Symphony colleagues who are already on the SFCM faculty, including all of the Symphony's principal wind and brass players."

"I am delighted to join the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music," says Izotov. "It is a privilege to continue the great tradition of the American School of oboe playing in one of the nation's most visible music institutions that beautifully reflects the remarkable culture and forward-thinking identity of San Francisco."

Called "a player of dazzling technical ability and musical inventiveness" by the San Francisco Chronicle, Izotov began his tenure as principal oboe at the San Francisco Symphony in 2015. He had previously served as associate principal from 1996 to 2003. Izotov has also held appointments with the Chicago Symphony (principal oboe), appointed by Daniel Barenboim, and the Metropolitan Opera (principal oboe), appointed by James Levine, as well as the Boston Symphony and Los Angeles Philharmonic (guest principal oboe).

Izotov is the first Russian-born musician to hold a principal wind position in any major American symphony orchestra. His numerous awards include top prizes at solo competitions in Saint Petersburg (1991), Moscow (1990), New York (1995), and at the Fernand Gillet International Competition (2001). Izotov has appeared more than fifty times as soloist with the Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, MET Chamber Ensemble, and Pacific Festival Orchestra, collaborating with luminaries such as Bernard Haitink, James Levine, Nicholas McGegan, and Riccardo Muti. In addition to his capacities as a faculty member at SFCM, Izotov also teaches at Music Academy of the West and the Pacific Music Festival (Japan). He has previously served on the faculty of The Juilliard School and DePaul University. He regularly presents master classes at Aspen, Oberlin, Interlochen, Tanglewood, the New World Symphony, Mannes, the Manhattan School of Music, University of Michigan, McGill University, Verbier, and Domaine Forget.

Born in Moscow, Russia, Izotov studied at the Gnesin School of Music with Ivan Pushechnikov and Sergey Velikanov, and at Boston University’s School of Fine Arts with Ralph Gomberg.