Born in 1976 in Moscow, Jacob Katznelson started his music studies at the age of six. In 1993 he entered Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory to study with Eliso Virsaladze, of whom he is an assistant at the Moscow Conservatory since 2001. He also teaches at the Special Gnessin music school affiliated to the conservatory since 1998.

He has performed as a soloist across Russia as well as in Austria, Germany, Spain and France. As a member of the Akadem-trio (Jacob Katsnelson (piano), Irina Petukhova (violin), Boris Lifanovsky (cello)) he has performed in Russia and abroad. In 1999 the trio won the First and six special prizes at the Second Open National Taneyev chamber music competition. In 2000 it won 2nd prize at the XXI Trapani (Italy) International chamber music competition.

Jacob Katznelson is a laureate of the 2nd International piano competition in Tbilisi (Georgia) and the 1st International Svyatoslav Richter competition in Moscow (2005).