Mikhail Zemtsov first took violin lessons from his mother Ludmila Levinson at the age of 5, later studying at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory (Prof. G. Odinetz). He gained Soloist Diplomas with Distinction from ABRSM (Mexico-GB, B. Dinerstein), Hochschuele fuer Musik in Hamburg (Germany,M. Nichetianu) and Maastricht Conservatory (Netherlands, M. Kugel). He is a prizewinner of the First International Viola Competion (Vienna) and of the Elisa Meyer String Competion (Hamburg). Mikhail Zemtsov has participated in numerous International Festivals – Cervantino, Camarissima (Mexico) Rosendal, Egersund (Norway) Baastad (Sweden) Luebecker Kammermusikfest, Oldenburger Promenade, Amadeus Aachen, Bodensee (Germany), Cividale del Friuli, Tuscan Sun Cortona, Settimane Musicale di Stresa (Italy) Ost-West Musikfest (Austria), Neeme Jarvi Academy (Estonia), Gaia (Zwitserland), Grachten festival, Schostakovitch festival Amsterdam, Delft, Middelburg, Peter ...