Nikolay Shugaev leads an active performing career as a soloist, chamber musician and conductor, making major concert appearances throughout Europe, North and South America and Asia. He completed his master’s degree at Moscow State Conservatory with professor Natalia Shakhovskaya and his soloist diploma at the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italiana in Lugano with professor Enrico Dindo.
Shugaev makes regular appearances at international festivals such as Ceresio Estate, Società dei Concerti di Milano, Società del quartetto, Lugano Festival, Rome Chamber Music Festival, Mantova Chamber Music Festival, Lucerne Festival, LAC Lugano, MiTo and many others. Since 2017 he has been deputy artistic director of Habana Clásica festival in Cuba. He also performs regularly in such prestigious halls as the Great Hall of Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory, La Sala Verdi Milano, LAC Lugano, Concertgebouw Amsterdam and Carnegie Hall.
Shugaev is principal cello of Ensemble NEO (Sweden) and teaches cello at Luleå University.
Shugaev has recorded numerous CD for label Naxos and Gallo (Switzerland). His recording with Italian cello concertos “Malipiero, Casella, Ghedini” (Naxos 8.574393) with Rostov Symphony and conductor Valentin Uryupin has become a highlight of the season, highly acclaimed by musical critics. “Gramophone” writes: “…Nikolay Shugaev is an eloquent soloist in all three works, and the Rostov Academic Symphony Orchestra provide sensitive support throughout under the direction of Valentin Uryupin. Strongly recommended, then, for Ghedini’s concerto; its unique atmosphere continues to haunt me.”
Shugaev plays a cello made by Igor Moroder (Milano).
