Called "one of the outstanding cellists of his generation" by The New York Times, Ralph Kirshbaum has joined a star-studded cast of players at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music.

Kirshbaum is the most recent appointment to the prestigious faculty - Israeli violinist Hagai Shaham came aboard in September. Violinist Midori Goto joined the program four years ago and is now the department chair.

"Mr. Kirshbaum is a perfect addition to the already stellar faculty in instrumental music. His impeccable reputation as both an artist and a teacher exemplifies the spirit of the Thornton School," USC Thornton Dean Robert Cutietta said.

The USC Thornton strings program, among the nation's finest, is noted for both individual instruction and coaching in chamber music. The faculty has included Jascha Heifetz, William Primrose, Eudice Shapiro, Eleonore Schoenfeld and Alice Schoenfeld.

"Ralph Kirshbaum's artistry is unsurpassed and his teaching is phenomenal," Goto said. "Kirshbaum's commitment to mentoring younger musicians is well-known and he will bring to our strings program a force that cannot be matched anywhere else with his artistry, expertise and dedication."

Kirshbaum was appointed the Gregor Piatigorsky Endowed Chair in Violoncello, established in 1974 and named for the master cellist who taught at USC from 1962 until his death in 1976. Other holders of the post were Piatigorsky himself, Lynn Harrell, Ronald Leonard and Eleonore Schoenfeld.

"What an honor it is to assume the chair which bears the name of one of the greatest cellists of the 20th century," Kirshbaum said. "He served as my boyhood idol. I played to him in a masterclass as a teenager. And I treasure the memory of a personal visit some years later at his home in Los Angeles. I recognize this appointment as an opportunity and a responsibility -- I embrace both wholeheartedly."

Bernard Greenhouse, a founding and long time member of the Beaux Arts Trio and one of the elder statesmen of the American cello community, called Kirshbaum "undoubtedly one of the most respected teachers and artists in the world and the fact that he has agreed to take this post at USC will certainly bring the best and the most talented young minds to the university."

Kirshbaum, born in Texas, currently teaches at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England, where he holds the International Chair of Cello. He was founder and for twenty years artistic director of the RNCM Manchester International Cello Festival. He has appeared with most of the world's great orchestras and conductors including Sir Colin Davis, James Levine, Andre Previn, Zubin Mehta and Sir Simon Rattle. For the past 4 years he has served on the U.S. President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities.

"I am very impressed by the palpable sense of excitement and purpose that is evident in the Thornton School and that exists in equal measure in the burgeoning and dynamic arts community of greater Los Angeles," Kirshbaum said.

Aside from his busy concerto schedule, Kirshbaum's recital programs are much in demand and each year he appears at several of the great international festivals such as Edinburgh, Bath, Verbier, Lucerne, Aspen, La Jolla, Santa Fe, Ravinia and New York's "Mostly Mozart". He continues to delight in the pleasures of chamber music and ensures space in a busy solo schedule to continue his associations with many leading chamber musicians including Pinchas Zukerman, Vadim Repin, Jimmy Lin, Miriam Fried, Yefim Bronfman, Peter Frankl and Nobuko Imai.

Kirshbaum's many recordings include the 1983 Gramophone Magazine Record of the Year, "Tippett's Triple Concerto" for Philips and the complete Bach Suites for Virgin EMI. Last year he released his performance of the Shostakovich and Prokofiev Sonatas with pianist Peter Jablonski.

Having lived in Europe for nearly four decades, Kirshbaum will assume his teaching duties at USC in the Fall of 2008.