American cellist Kate Dillingham made her solo debut with orchestra in Russia in 1998. She was invited to perform as the featured soloist with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra The Seasons and with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic. She has been described as "a polished performer with the kind of sensitive understanding that can transform merely brilliant playing into moving musical statement." In 1998, following her debut in Russia, Ms. Dillingham returned to study with Distinguished Professor Maria Tschaikovskaya of the Moscow Conservatory. In the summer of 1999, she completed a master course in Germany with Professor Tschaikovskaya and was hailed in the German press for her performance of the Haydn Concerto in D, as "The very talented cellist from America . . . one to watch for in the future." Shortly thereafter, Ms. Dillingham returned to Russia to perform and record the two concerti of Haydn in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. She went on to tour in Romania and conduct masterclasses in both countries. In May of 2000, Ms. Dillingham signed with Connoisseur Society Records, which released her recording of the two Haydn concerti with The Moscow Chamber Orchestra "The Seasons" in December of 2001. She can be heard playing the Haydn Concerto in C at www.mp3.com "Kate Dillingham with The Moscow Chamber Orchestra" which to date has received over 45,000 plays. A second recording for Connoisseur Society which includes works for cello and piano of Debussy, Honegger, and Fauré is due to be released in the summer of 2002. Ms. Dillingham made her recital debut in April of 2002 at Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. The performance included two world premieres; "Chant" for cello and piano by Chicago Symphony composer-in-residence Augusta Read Thomas and "Suite for Solo Cello" by Jennifer Higdon. The press deemed her "an excellent cellist; dignified, intelligent and compelling. An adventurous, dedicated champion of contemporary music, she performed with admirable control, conviction and authority."