Evan Kahn

Principal Cello

Evan Kahn joined the San Francisco Opera Orchestra as Principal Cello in 2023. A California native, Evan grew up in Los Angeles with a jazz pianist father and opera singer mother. He has been lauded for bringing his "electrifying ... nuanced and colorful" style to all of his collaborations, from concerti to chamber music to contemporary performances. In addition to his position at San Francisco Opera, Evan also holds principal positions in the New Century Chamber Orchestra, Opera San Jose and the San Jose Chamber Orchestra. Dedicated to the orchestral craft, he also performs with the Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Opera, San Francisco Symphony and as acting principal cellist with the Britt Music and Arts Festival. In the Spring of 2018, he served as Artist-in-Residence with Performance Today at NPR, sharing some of his favorite works for cello and his philosophies on music and life. In February of 2019, he was named Musical America's New Artist of the Month.

Evan received a Master's degree in Chamber Music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, studying with Jennifer Culp. He graduated with college and university honors from Carnegie Mellon University, where he studied with David Premo. Before college, he took lessons in Los Angeles with John Walz, Timothy Loo and Karen Patch. Other important mentors include Paul Hersh, Thomas Loewenheim, Amos Yang, Mark Kosower, Robert DeMaine and Bonnie Hampton.

In addition to performing and teaching, Evan enjoys playing tabletop games, watching British television and playing with his cat. He plays on a cello by Carlo Carletti, c. 1900, and a bow by Jacob Eury, c. 1830-1835.