Today we’d like to introduce you to Sergey Antonov.
Hi Sergey, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My life as a professional classical musician began at the age of 5 in Moscow, Russia, when my mother started teaching me cello. I was born into the family of a professional cellist, where my father was a cellist in the orchestra, and my mother was dedicating her life to teaching cello.
After graduating from a special music school, I went on to continue my higher education at the Moscow Conservatory for the following 5 years.
The year 2005 brought me to the United States, where I continued working with the Grammy-nominated cellist Terry King at Longy School of Music.
In 2007, I went back to Moscow to participate in one of the most prestigious competitions – the International Tchaikovsky Competition, and was awarded a Gold Medal and 1st Prize.
In 2011, I became one of the founding members of the Hermitage Piano Trio. The ensemble, celebrating 15 years, performs extensively throughout the world with violinist Misha Keylin and pianist Ilya Kazantsev.
Our debut album with the Reference Recordings label landed us 3 Grammy nominations, and in April of 2026, the Hermitage Piano Trio released its third album with Reference Recordings.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Being a professional musician is a lifetime journey. Beginning at the very early age its filled with countless hours of practicing, rehearsals and performances. At a younger age, the artists are constantly engaging in competitions, masterclasses and summer programs, traveling the world in pursuit.
However, the excitement often shares the road with disappointments and struggles. Both obvious and internal.
But with the long and difficult development “runway”, the satisfaction of being on stage and sharing the performances with lifetime friends and colleagues is priceless. Being surrounded by people of the highest dedication to the art of music outweighs all the struggles and difficulties the world of art keeps hidden.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’ve been a professional classical musician my entire life. I’m dedicating most of my life to performing concerts, participating in chamber music festivals and passing my experience to a younger generation through teaching students.
I really consider it to be a great honor to be a part of the musical world and to be able to perform on stage throughout my life.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
We got asked a lot about superstitions or pre-concert routines, and for me, two things stand out. I have to take a little jump right before I go on stage, and my only superstition is that if my sheet music falls down on the floor, it’s bad luck, and to get rid of it I need to sit down on it… Had to do it once on stage during a concert…
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sergeyantonov.com
