Mikhail (Mischa) Degtjareff received his first cello lessons at the Special Music School St. Petersburg in the class of Elena Dernova. He then studied from 1996 to 2001 with Prof. Anatoli Nikitin and his assistant Kira Kraftzoff.
During his studies, he was a member of the Saint Petersburg Cello Ensemble, under the direction of Professor Nikitin, and was already pursuing an active concert career. In 1996, he was a laureate of the "Young Talents of Russia" festival and in 1998 a laureate of the competition of the Gartow Foundation "Friends of St. Petersburg Music." In 1998, he took part in the orchestra academy of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. He completed his cello studies in 2005 at the Stuttgart University of Music with Prof. Peter Buck.
He composes both serious (classical) and pop music, including for the Rastrelli cello quartet.
Mikhail Degtjareff is currently a lecturer for string quartet at the State Conservatory in St.Petersburg.