Biography

Nikolai was born in a small town in Eastern Siberia,
near Lake Baikal.
He was introduced to the guitar at the age of 9 by a neighbor who was a professional musician. From there he intuitivly taught himself how to play
the guitar.

At 17, he moved to Novosibirsk, the third largest city in Russia. A cultural and scientific center in Russia, Nikolai supported himself by playing in restaurants and clubs throughout the city while attending the Technical University. It was not until Nikolai almost graduated with a degree in engineering that he realized that he wanted to pursue a
career as a musician.

In his early twenties he began playing with The State Philharmonica, touring with famous musicians in the Soviet Union. From this experience he began creating his own musical projects with influences by American Jazz and Brazilian music.

Nikolai went on to study at Novosibirsk Music College and Kemerovo University of Arts, where he received a Master of Art Degree in Music with Concentration
in Jazz Guitar.

Upon graduation he played extensively with the Siberian Jazz Band and Siberian Jazz Project throughout Finland, Germany, Sweden and France.

After meeting great contemporary gypsy guitarists such as Angelo Debarre, Bireli Lagrene and Jimmy Rosenberg, Nikolai fell in love with gypsy jazz. Returning to Russia from touring in the early nineties, he started developing his own project using the contemporary jazz language influenced by Django Reinhardt and Brazilian Jazz music.

Nikolai was one of the first Russian guitarists to play this musical style which is becoming increasingly popular thoughout the world.

After a few recordings and appearances on the National TV, Nikolai's Trio was invited to attend the International Jazz Convention in Chicago. While in the United States, Nikolai was fortunate enough to meet famous guitarists such as Mr. Chet Atkins, who twice invited him to visit him at Chet Atkins Musicians Day. There he shared the stage with the best guitarists from the world such as:
Mr. Chet Atkins himself, Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenour, and others.

It was with the personal help of Chet Atkins, Harold Bradley, The Russian/American Cultural Foundation Corporation who helped Nikolai receive his United States Residency as an Alien of Extraordinary Ability.

Nikolai's credits include both film and television soundtracks in Russia, Europe and the United States. In Europe he has performed at The 30th International Jazz Festival of Finland; The Dresden Jazz Festival in Germany and The St. Petersberg Jazz Festival in Russia. In the United States he has appeared at The Chicago Jazz Convention, Chet Atkins Musicians Days in Nashville, Tennessee; Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina.

Nikolai is currently working towards his Post-Graduate Degree at The University of South Carolina in Classical Guitar Performance. He is studying with Professor Christopher Berg.