“Local audiences were left slack-jawed by his artistry…His intonation was impeccable, his tone warmly expressive, his feeling for long-breathed phrases altogether sensitive...Mark well the name Zlatomir Fung. You will be hearing a good deal from this already-accomplished cellist in the years to come.”
John von Rhein, Chicago Classical Review
“What stood out for me was Fung’s careful attention to dynamics…with a beautifully sustained high line, yet also exploiting the full range of his instrument with dazzling leaps of virtuosity…”
Alexander Hall, Bachtrack
Cellist Zlatomir Fung burst onto the scene as the first American in four decades (and youngest musician ever) to win First Prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition Cello Division. He has since garnered accolades, critical acclaim and standing ovations at performances around the world, more and more widely recognized as one of the preeminent cellists of our time. Astounding audiences with his boundless virtuosity and exquisite sensitivity, the 25-year-old has already proven himself a star among the next generation of world-class musicians.
In March 2025, Signum Records releases Fung’s debut album, a collection of opera fantasies and transcriptions for cello and piano, which is emblematic of Fung’s endless curiosity and his interest in unusual repertoire. The recording includes Fung’s own fantasy on Janáček’s Jenůfa and world premiere recordings of Marshall Estrin’s Fantasia Carmén and a virtually unknown transcription of Rossini’s William Tell by 19th-century composer François-George Hainl. Several recitals this season offer selections from the recording.
In the 2024–2025 season, Fung gives recitals in New York City, Boston, and St. Louis, and performs the complete Bach Cello Suites at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts and in Arcata, California. He returns to the Aspen Music Festival and makes his debut at the Ravinia Festival. As concerto soloist, he joins the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the San Antonio Philharmonic and the Billings Symphony Orchestra, among others. Internationally, he performs with the Barcelona Symphony in Spain, the Evergreen Symphony Orchestra in Taiwan with Jaap van Zweden conducting, and he returns to the London Philharmonic Orchestra; he also appears in France, Poland, Romania, Korea, Japan, China, and Italy.
Fung served as Artist-in-Residence with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for the 2023–2024 season, appearing at London’s Cadogan Hall and touring the UK with the orchestra. In the past several seasons, Fung has debuted with the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Orchestre National de Lille, and BBC Philharmonic, as well as the Baltimore, Dallas, Detroit, Seattle, Milwaukee, Utah, Rochester, and Kansas City Symphonies. In addition to demonstrating a mastery of the canon with his impeccable technique, Fung brings exceptional insight into the depths of contemporary repertoire, championing composers such as Unsuk Chin, Katherine Balch, and Anna Clyne. The Nippon Music Foundation just named Fung as a recipient of its Instrument Loan Project, which provides fine instruments to notable artists under the age of 35.