Dilshod Narzillaev, cello

Dilshod Narzillaev became the first Uzbek musician to reach the final of the Queen Elisabeth Competition in 2026. Named a laureate of that year’s competition, he performed Shostakovich’s First Cello Concerto with the Belgian National Orchestra under Antony Hermus. Reviewing his performance, the Belgian newspaper La Libre praised his lyricism and naturalness. Following the competition, he received a Medal of Honor from Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Culture in recognition of his contribution to his country’s culture and its standing abroad.

Born in Navoi, Uzbekistan, Dilshod began studying the cello at the age of ten with Djakhongir Ibragimov at the Reinhold Moritzevich Glière School of Music in Tashkent. He went on to study with Daniel Veis at Park University’s International Center for Music and with Laurence Lesser at the New England Conservatory.

Dilshod has appeared as a soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra at Symphony Hall, the National and State Orchestras of Uzbekistan, the Kansas City Chamber Orchestra and the Croatian Radiotelevision Symphony Orchestra. He won First Prize at the NEC/Tufts Boston Pops Concerto Competition and Fourth Prize at the Antonio Janigro International Cello Competition. In 2022, he received the Nihol Presidential Prize for young artists in Uzbekistan.

An active chamber musician, Dilshod has participated in festivals including Music@Menlo, Prussia Cove and The Perlman Music Program. He returns to Marlboro Music for a third summer in 2027.

Since 2025, Dilshod Narzillaev has been an Artist in residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, under the direction of Gary Hoffman.

Last updated: 24 September 2026