With 26 internationally known cellists, performances by the Emerson String Quartet, Calder String Quartet, the LA Phil, and an orchestra of 100 cellos, the Piatigorsky International Cello Festival is one of the world’s biggest musical events devoted to the instrument. Some 40 student cellists from around the world are invited to study and rub shoulders with the masters at the ten-day event, presented by the USC Thornton School of Music and the LA Phil under the direction of acclaimed cellist Ralph Kirshbaum. Postgraduate student Evan Kahn ’16 got his invitation after being recommended by his teacher Jennifer Culp. ”I was really elated. It was an unexpected opportunity,” says Kahn. Unexpected, since the last Piatigorsky Festival was held three years ago and Kahn forgot it was happening again. “So when I got the e-mail saying come and be part of the premiere cello festival in the world, I said, oh, cool! Yes! Please!”

In a master class, Kahn will be paired with one of his four top choices from a who’s-who list of the world’s top cellists, names like Yo-Yo Ma, Mischa Maisky, Truls Mørk, Jean-Guihen Queyras, David Geringas, and Frans Helmerson. But even surrounded by such star power, Kahn says he’s most excited to meet other cellists of his generation. “I’m really looking forward to interacting with my peers… to foster connections with those people and then see where each other goes and see how we blossom.”

The 2016 Piatigorsky International Cello Festival takes place from May 13-22 in Los Angeles.