Leonid Shukaev is a cellist who belongs to a great Russian cello tradition. As a student at St. Petersburg Conservatory (1979-1984 Master of Music Degree; 1986-1989 PhD), he was fortunate enough to study with Emanuel Fishmann, the teacher of Misha Maisky, Boris Pergamenshikov.

Mr. Shukaev had a rich and successful teaching experience at St. Petersburg Conservatory and the Rimsky-Korsakov Music College (1988-1999), where he held the position of professor of cello and string quartet. He was also on the faculty at Oberlin Conservatory for five years (1997-2003).Mr. Shukaev is a tenured associate professor of cello and chamber music coach at Wichita State University School of Music in Wichita, Kansas. He is also principal cellist in the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and the Wichita Grand Opera Orchestra. Mr. Shukaev is a founding member of The Orfeo Trio and Orfeo Duo. The recent performances of these groups includes tours in the USA, China, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. He was also a founding member of the Brahms Trio and the St. Petersburg Trio.

Mr. Shukaev founded the St. Petersburg Quartet in 1986, which was in existence for thirty years. As a member of the St. Petersburg Quartet, Mr. Shukaev regularly performed in North America, Europe and Asia on the most prestigious music series and festivals. The quartet's numerous engagements include: an opening night performance at the Mostly Mozart festival at Lincoln Center, NY; seven concerts over five years at London's Wigmore Hall; numerous British festivals, including Aldeburgh; Canadian débuts in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver; Lincoln Center’s “Great performances” series; NYC’s Frick Collection and 92nd Street Y series; and the Caramoor, Piccolo Spoleto, and Music Mountain Festivals. The Quartet has toured Germany (including the prestigious Frankfurt Alte Oper and Herkules Hall in Munich), the Netherlands (including the Concertgebouw), Ireland, Denmark, Poland, Japan, Spain, Italy, France,Belgium, Norway, UK, Switzerland, Sweden, South Korea, Taiwan, Russia, Belgium and major festivals in Mexico.

Catherine Consiglio has been Professor of Viola at Wichita State University and Principal Viola in the Wichita Symphony for the past 34 years. In 2021 she was honored to receive the Burton Pell Achievement in Music Award from the Wichita Arts Council. She was violist with the Fairmount String Quartet for 17 years. Consiglio has been to Asuncion, Paraguay twice in recent years to teach and perform. Ms. Consiglio has also taught at Rice University, the University of Connecticut, University of Oklahoma and Phillips Academy in Boston. Former orchestral playing positions include: Principal Violist of the Oklahoma Symphony, Boston Philharmonic, New England Chamber Orchestra, Orchesta Sinfonia de Jalapa and Assistant Principal of the Houston Chamber Orchestra. Consiglio taught and performed at festivals across the United States, Mexico and Europe, including the Evian Music Festival in France, The Quartet Program and Killington Music Festival in the US. Since 2007 Ms. Consiglio’s technique book for violists has been in use at the Julliard School and the Julliard Preparatory Division. Ms. Consiglio has received two WSU College of Fine Arts Excellence in Achievement Awards. The Excellence in Teaching Award and the Excellence in Special Fine Arts Endeavors Award twice. In 2007 she was awarded the Anita Jones Faculty Fellowship by the Dean of the College of Fine Arts. In addition, the Board and Musicians of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra gave the prestigious Sevart Award for Community Service in 2008 for her work with Chamber Music at The Barn. Ms. Consiglio was co-founder and Artistic Director of Chamber Music at the Barn for 26 years.