Denis Shapovalov was born in 1974 in Tchaikovsky. In 1998 he graduated from the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory (class of Prof. Natalia Shakhovskaya) and became the winner of the XI International Tchaikovsky Competition. After graduating from the graduate school of the Moscow Conservatory, he was invited to his native university as a teacher, where he worked until 2012.

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Performs on the largest stages of the world, participates in prestigious international festivals - in Germany, Italy, France, Finland, Brazil, Japan, China, etc. In 2000 he made his debut in the USA at the World Congress of Cellists, a year later became the winner of the Virtual Music Competition (USA) .

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Repeatedly performed with orchestras conducted by M. Rostropovich, as well as with well-known ensembles conducted by V. Spivakov, V. Fedoseev, L. Maazel, Yu. Bashmet, D. Nozeda, Yu.-P. Saraste, E. Litton and others. Played in an ensemble with R. Shchedrin, V. Repin, N. Znaider, A. Lyubimov, A. Gindin, D. Nakamatsu, A. Mustonen.

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The cellist's concertos have been repeatedly recorded and broadcast by the Kultura State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, Bavarian Radio, Radio France, Mezzo, Cenqueime, Bayern Klassik, Das Erste ARD. The musician has released several CDs, including the album Great Cello Concertos with Moscow Virtuosos conducted by S. Sondetskis.

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The artist regularly conducts master classes, is a member of the jury of international competitions. In 2014, he initiated his own educational project - the International Mobile Cello Academy. Actively participates in jazz and rock projects, as well as in the performance of modern academic music. Many modern authors have dedicated their works to him.

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Denis Shapovalov also performs as a conductor and composer. He is the only academic musician to have written a rock album and the first academic musician to perform at the North Pole.