Natalia Shakhovskaya

Natalia Shakhovskaya (born September 27, 1935 in Moscow) is a Russian cellist.^[1][2] She studied cello at the Gnessin School of Music and later at the Moscow Conservatory under the tutorship of S. Kosolupov. She finished her education at that center with Mstislav Rostropovich.

Winner at the most important cello competitions in Russia and abroad – she won the First Prize and Gold Medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition – Natalia Shakhovskaya has pursued an active career as soloist in recitals and with the best orchestras and conductors worldwide.

She taught at the Moscow Conservatory (as Head of the Cello Chair and Director of Double Bass Department) from 1974 to 1995, after Rostropovich relinquished the post on his departure from Russia.

More than forty of her students have won international competitions. Shakhovskaya gives master classes around the world and has been a jury member at international competitions.

Currently she is principal teacher at the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía (Queen Sofía College of Music) in Madrid.

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