Kobrin, who is making his New York Philharmonic debut on June 29 as part of the orchestra's Summertime Classics series, won the gold medal at the Twelfth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in June 2005.

His ensuing U.S. tour included performances with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra led by James Conlon. Next season he will make his Carnegie Hall, Dallas Symphony and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic debuts.

Born in Moscow in 1980, Kobrin began his piano studies at the Gnessin Music School, where he now a professor, at age five. In 1999 he won the Busoni International Piano Competition in Bolzano, Italy, and in 2003 he graduated from the Moscow Conservatory.