Born in Minsk, Kyril Zlotnikov began his studies at the Belarusian State Academy of Music with Professor Vladimir Perlin. He continued his training in Israel with Uzi Wiesel and Hillel Zori, completing his musical education under the guidance of Michael Khomitzer at the Rubin Academy of Music and Dance in Jerusalem.

During his studies, he attended masterclasses and courses with renowned musicians such as Isaac Stern, Yo-Yo Ma, Natalia Gutman, Boris Pergamenschikow, Aldo Parisot, and Georgy Kurtág. Since 1991, he has been a fellow of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation, winning several awards in competitions, including the Clairmont Competition, the Braun-Roger Siegl Competition, and the Pierre Tarcali Prize.

He is a founding member of one of today’s most dynamic and exciting ensembles, the Jerusalem Quartet, which performs regularly on major international stages. Between 2002 and 2020, the quartet recorded exclusively for Harmonia Mundi.

In addition to his intensive chamber music activities, Kyril Zlotnikov also performs as a soloist with internationally renowned orchestras and is a regular presence at major international festivals, including the Proms, Verbier, Vancouver, Gstaad, Salzburg, Rheingau, Ravinia, Schleswig-Holstein, Jerusalem, and Schwetzingen, among others.

In the field of chamber music, Zlotnikov has shared the stage with leading artists such as Daniel Barenboim, András Schiff, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Pierre Boulez, Elena Bashkirova, Mitsuko Uchida, Natalia Gutman, Tabea Zimmermann, Miriam Fried, Michael Tree, Asher Fisch, Nikolaj Znaider, Lang Lang, Itamar Golan, and Martin Fröst.

From 2001 to 2012, he served as principal cellist and cello professor of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra under the direction of Daniel Barenboim. He also participated in special projects and tours with the Staatskapelle Berlin as principal cellist.

Beyond his numerous recordings with the Jerusalem Quartet, Zlotnikov recorded the complete Mozart piano trios with Daniel Barenboim and Nikolaj Znaider (EMI).

Kyril Zlotnikov plays a cello by the Amati Brothers, made in Cremona in 1610.