The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University

   Cellist Michael Kannen was a founding member of the Brentano String Quartet and for seven years performed with that group on concert stages around the world, on radio and television, and on recordings.  During those years, the Brentano Quartet was awarded the first Cleveland Quartet Award,  the Naumburg Chamber Music Award, a Royal Philharmonic Award  and was the first participant in the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center II program.  Mr. Kannen continues to perform chamber music around the country, at major festivals, as a member of the Apollo Trio, and on period instruments with the Houston-based group Context.  Mr. Kannen performs regularly with flutist Paula Robison and harpsichordist Kenneth Cooper, and has collaborated with such artists as Jessye Norman, Phyllis Bryn-Julson, Sergiu Luca, Hilary Hahn, Donald Weilerstein, Eugene Drucker, Leon Fleisher, Mitsuko Uchida, David Golub, Charles Neidich, Steven Isserlis, Gary Hoffman and with jazz artists Michael Formanek and Uri Caine..  His activities range from performances on period instruments to premieres of the music of our time.  He has recorded for the CRI label.  Mr. Kannen has served on the faculties of Dartmouth College and the Purchase College Conservatory.  He is currently the Director of Chamber Music at the Peabody Conservatory of Music, where he holds the Sidney Friedberg Chair in Chamber Music.