A native of Leningrad, Russia, Roman Mekinulov began cello studies at the age of five at the Leningrad Music School. At ages 12 and 14, he was awarded winner of the Young Artists Competition of Leningrad and at age 16, Mr. Mekinulov entered the Rimsky-Korsakov College, where he studied with Georgy Ginovker. As a chamber musician, he has performed with various ensembles and was awarded First Prize in the Leningrad Chamber Music Competition in 1988. In 1989, Mr. Mekinulov immigrated to the U.S. and continued his studies at The Juilliard School in New York, where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the studio of Professor Harvey Shapiro.

As an active recitalist, chamber musician, and concerto soloist, Roman Mekinulov has performed extensively throughout the U.S., Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Germany, France, Greece, Denmark, Switzerland, and Russia. He has participated in various master classes in Europe, with artists such as Mario Brunello, Alain Meunier, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, and Anner Bylsma. In 1991, he formed a professional ensemble, The Emerald Duo, with Greek pianist Charis Dimaras, which won the Palma d’Oro International Music Competition in Italy. He also performed as principal cellist of the Juilliard Symphony Orchestra under conductors Kurt Masur, Hugh Wolf, and Leonard Slatkin, and in the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra in Germany under conductors Rostropovich, Menuchin, and Eschenbach.

In April 1993, as a result of winning the 1992 Young Artists International Auditions Cello Award, Roman Mekinulov performed in his debut New York recital in Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall. Critic Edith Eisler of Strings Magazine wrote, “Twenty-year-old cellist Roman Mekinulov from Russia is very serious, very talented, and very good. He handles the instrument and bow with ease, has a beautiful tone, and communicates genuine musicality.”

Mr. Mekinulov has been repeatedly invited to substitute in the New York Philharmonic under Kurt Masur, and in recordings for Teldec. In the fall of ‘95 he made his solo debut in the U.S., performing Schumann’s Cello Concerto with the Greater Newburgh Symphony. A year later, he performed a recital at the famous Concertgebouw Hall in Amsterdam. In 1998, Mr. Mekinulov was appointed principal cellist of the Orquestra Sinfônica do Estado de São Paulo in Brazil, where he performed under leading conductors and with acclaimed soloists of the world. In September of 2001, Mr. Mekinulov was nominated for the prestigious Carlos Gomes Prize in the “Best Instrumentalist of the Year” category. 

In 2001, Mr. Mekinulov was appointed Principal Cellist of the BPO, where in the past 24 years he has been featured numerous times as a soloist. He continued his chamber career through performing in over 150 chamber music concerts around the U.S., including Jupiter Chamber Players in New York City, on tour with St. Petersburg Quartet, and with chamber players in Naples, FL and the Virginia Arts Festival. 

Roman Mekinulov stays busy teaching studio cello lessons and successfully preparing students for admittance into music schools such as Curtis, NEC, Peabody, and the Manhattan and Eastman Schools of Music. He is a founding member and the Artistic Director of the Bravo International Chamber Music Workshop, a comprehensive chamber music workshop for middle and high school students which takes place every year during the months of July and February (learn more at bravoworkshop.com).

In 2015, Concierto en Tango by Miguel del Águila was written for Mr. Mekinulov and performed and recorded with the BPO, resulting in a nomination for a Latin GRAMMY. He has made solo concert appearances with the Virginia and Albany symphonies and in the U.S. premiere of Krzysztof Penderecki’s Concerto doppio with the BPO. Recent concerts include soloing with the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, New Hampshire Music Festival Orchestra, and The Orchestra Now at Lincoln Center. 

Roman and his wife Sebnem Mekinulov, a lyric soprano, are parents to two kids, Talia and Benjamin Mekinulov, who is Principal Cellist of the Charleston Symphony.