Leonid Surkov

From September 2026, he will succeed Emanuel Abbühl as lecturer for oboe at the Institute of Classical Music.

Born in Moscow, the oboist began his musical training at the Gnessin Music School in Moscow with Prof. Denis Osver and continued his studies in 2019 at the Berlin University of the Arts in the class of Prof. Washington Barella. He received additional inspiration from Ingo Goritzki, Alexei Ogrintchouk and Heinz Holliger, among others.

While still a student, Leonid Surkov won several international competitions, including first prize at the ARD Music Competition in 2024, The Muri Competition in 2023 and third prize at the 13th International Oboe Competition of Japan. He was also awarded the Mayor of Moscow Prize and the Bruno Frey Prize of the Baden-Württemberg State Music Academy.

As a soloist, he has performed with renowned orchestras such as the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and Basel Philharmonic Orchestra. Engagements have taken him to festivals such as the Davos Festival, Neuschwanstein Festival and crescendo Festival. Leonid gained orchestral experience with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Komische Oper Berlin and the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, among others.

In addition to his solo career, Leonid Surkov is also involved in teaching, for example by conducting chamber music groups in Ochsenhausen and giving masterclasses at the Gnessin Summer School.

Since the 2022/23 season, he has been principal oboist with the Musikkollegium Winterthur.