Hailed as a cellist with “warmth and panache in solo flight” (Atlanta Journal Constitution) Ismail Akbar was born in Atlanta, received his Bachelors of Music degree in cello performance from Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Masters of Music from Mercer University.  As a graduate of the prestigious Talent Development Program he performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Robert Spano playing the Boccherini Cello Concerto.  Mr. Akbar has performed as soloist and chamber musician throughout Panama, the Bahamas, Russia and Italy.  He has also performed as soloist with the North Georgia Chamber Symphony, Georgia Tech Symphony Orchestra, Georgia College Orchestra and Aiken Civic Orchestra.  He has held substitute positions as principal and assistant principal cellist of Symphony Orchestra Augusta, Hilton Head Symphony, North Georgia Chamber Symphony, Greenville Symphony Orchestra, Spartanburg Philharmonic and Savannah Philharmonic.  He has served as faculty of cello and chamber music at Spelman College, Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University, Allen University, Clayton State and Laurel Ridge Music Festival.  Mr. Akbar is on the Board of Directors for Orvieto Musica’s Italian Music Festival.  As Cello Teaching Artist of the Atlanta Music Project, Akbar is an advocate for social change through musical excellence.