About

Hailed by Alex Ross in The New Yorker for his "flawless technique and keen musicality," cellist Coleman Itzkoff thrives at the intersection of multiple musical worlds. A versatile soloist, chamber musician, and ensemble member, Coleman brings equal passion and mastery to the exploration of historical instruments and contemporary music, to curating chamber experiences and directing festivals, to premiering new works and arranging for orchestras. Across all of these roles, he is equally committed to exploring the boundaries of what the cello can express and to the deep collaborative work of building ensembles and shared artistic vision.

Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Coleman was born in 1992 into a musical family and began playing cello at age 4. He studied under Eric Kim, Desmond Hoebig, Timothy Eddy, and Ralph Kirshbaum, earning a BM from Rice University, an MM from the Thornton School of Music at USC, and an Artist Diploma from The Juilliard School. These formative years—and especially the colleagues he has worked with—have shaped his artistic direction and approach to music-making.

Since becoming a founding member of the American Modern Opera Company (AMOC) in 2017, Coleman's artistic practice has expanded in unexpected directions. AMOC has created an ensemble devoted to discipline-colliding work that merges traditional and experimental artistic processes, and Coleman has become a key creative voice in shaping that vision. Working closely with composers Doug Balliett, Keir GoGwilt, and Matthew Aucoin, Coleman has premiered countless works and continues to expand AMOC's repertoire and reach. In 2022, AMOC made history as only the third ensemble to hold the Music Directorship in the Ojai Festival's 75-year history, and in Summer of 2025, the ensemble curated and directed the RunAMOC Festival at Lincoln Center.

Beyond his musical performing, Coleman's work with AMOC has led him to explore acting, dancing, and theatrical collaboration. He has performed in choreographer Bobbi Jene Smith's pieces 'Lost Mountain' and 'Broken Theatre' (presented as a feature-length film in festivals worldwide), and collaborated with the choreographer Or Schraiber on 'The Cello Player,' an experimental work exploring the instrument's theatrical possibilities. He has also arranged and orchestrated music for ballet and new theatrical works, most notably arranging for 'Procession' for the National Ballet of Canada.

In recent years, Coleman has deepened his engagement with Baroque and Renaissance music on period instruments. He is a core member of two thriving ensembles: Ruckus Early Music, known for its adventurous programming and commitment to historically-informed performance, and Twelfth Night Ensemble, dedicated to exploring the rich repertoire of the 17th and 18th centuries. This engagement with period practice—studying performance style, tuning systems, and instrumental technique—represents a parallel artistic life, one with its own depth and distinct set of creative challenges.

Chamber music has been central to Coleman's musical life since childhood, beginning with weekly quartet readings with his parents—both professional violinists—and deepening through his attendance at Greenwood Music Camp at age 10. He continues this passion today, performing at leading chamber music festivals including Marlboro Music Festival, La Jolla SummerFest, and Yellowbarn, and maintaining an active concert schedule as a soloist and chamber musician across North America and internationally.

Recent season highlights include performances with the LA Chamber Orchestra, Houston Symphony, San Diego Symphony, and Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra; chamber performances at Caramoor, Union College, and YellowBarn; and recitals at Carnegie Hall, London's Wigmore Hall, and venues throughout Europe and Australia. His most frequent and close collaborators include musicians Keir GoGwilt, Emi Ferguson, Clay Zeller-Townson, Audrey Vardanega, Rachell Wong, and Anthony Marwood, composers Matthew Aucoin, Michael Hersch, and Doug Balliett, and dancers Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber.

Throughout his career, Coleman has been committed to bringing music to broader audiences. He has received several grants and awards for this work, including the Sviatoslav Richter Grant for Music Outreach from Rice University, the Roman Goronok Fellowship from the 2016 Irving Klein Competition, and the Cleveland Clinic Arts and Medicine Award. During the pandemic, he partnered with PMHU's Vital Sounds Partnership Grants to bring live, one-on-one performances to hospital patients across the country. He regularly gives masterclasses and consultation lessons at universities where he is performing, sharing his passion for music with emerging musicians.