| Nikolai POPOV became a name as a flutist, who is mostly famous musician in his generation in the world. He has participated in and holds honorary awards from more than ten international competitions in Russia, England, Italy, Japan and other countries, he also performs in the most prestigious concert halls throughout Russia and Europe. After a performance of the 24th Paganini Caprice, the music critic for the German paper, the Süddeutsche Zeitung wrote, "His flute is not inferior to the virtuosity of the violin."
N. Popov was born in Leningrad in 1975. After graduating from the music school (I. Pimenova) and the Mussorgsky Music College, (E. Matveev), he entered the St. Petersburg Conservatory in the class of Prof. O. Chernyadyeva, where in his first year he won the International Competition in Minsk and the second Prize at the All-Russian competition for wood-wind instruments in St. Petersburg. In his third year, after winning a student competition for winds instruments at the Conservatory he received an invitation from the chairman of the jury, the legendary Swiss flutist, Professor Aurele Nicolet to undergo studing at the European Mozart Academy of Chamber Music, in Mala-Wies, Poland.
After graduating from the Conservatory, he continued his studies as a graduate at the High School of Music and Theatre in Munich, where his mentor was the famous flutist, Professor Andras Adorjan. At the same time he was a Fellow of several German foundations: Gartow Stiftung, the Academy of Chamber Music Villa-Musica and the Foundation of the world famous violinist Yehudi Menuhin’s Live Music now. In 2000, Popov became the first Russian wood-wind player to represent his country in the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra (chief conductor Claudio Abbado) and participated in the orchestra’s "Millennium-tour" with the French composer and conductor Pierre Boulez.
Even as a fourth-year student at the College of Music Nikolai Popov became a angagement, as a soloist of the philharmonic concert organization "Petersburg-Concert". It was represented him, as the first stage of his concert activities. Between 2002 - 2011 he was a soloist of the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra (chef conductor Vladimir Fedoseev) . As a soloist Nikolai Popov has recitals in Europa, US, England, Japan also performed in with famous orchestras: the St.-Petersburg Philharmonic, Tchaikovsky Symphony, Mariinsky Theatre orchestra, Moscow Virtuosi etc. under the direction of conductors: V. Fedoseyew, V. Spivakov, F. Mastrangelo, A. Sladkovsky and others. Since 2012 has been engaged as a soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre orchestra. In addition to classical music, he has participated in jazz projects, made arrangements for various ensembles and collaborated with groups comprising variuos musical styles: “Vermishelli Orchestra", «Terem-Quartet», «Rock’O’Co», «Easy Winners Ragtime Band» and many others. He leads an active teaching career, and frequently gives master-classes in throughout Russia and abroad.
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