Born in Moscow, Russia, 17/10/56, Arkady began to study playing alto horn at age six and switched to French horn in 1967, aged eleven, when he entered the Moscow Military Music School (he stayed there until 1974). One of most unusual Russian musicians, Arkady plays French horn, flugelhorn, alphorn and many more wind instruments that are unusual. >From 1978 to 1985 he was a member of the orchestra of the Bolshoi Theatre. With this world-famous orchestra and as a member of the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra from 1985 to 1989, he undertook numerous worldwide concert tours.
Alongside with that he started playing traditional jazz with double-bass player Mikhail Karetnikov and avant-garde jazz in Three O project with saxophonist Sergei Letov and tuba player Arkady Kirichenko (1985-1990).
Since the collapse of the former Soviet Union Shilkloper has worked independently both as a solo performer and, since 1988, in a duo with piano player Misha Alperin (since 1991, with Alperin and Starostin in the Moscow Art Trio) and in other formations.
He played with Lionel Hampton, Elvin Jones, Lew Soloff and Herb Ellis. He also has worked with Pierre Favre, Louis Sclavis, Rabih Abou-Khalil, Jon Christensen, Bob Stewart.
Since 1997, he also plays in two Russian trios: one with St. Petersburg's best jazzmen - acoustic bassist Vladimir Volkov and piano player Andrei Kondakov and the other with Volkov and Sergei Starostin. Arkady also participates in international project like Pago Libre and Christian Muthspiel's Octet Ost and records as a guest musician with bands like Vienna Art Orchestra (since January, 1998, Arkady performs and records extensively with this unique formation based in Vienna, Austria). Shilkloper is in demand as a soloist and a teacher for brass instrument workshops and horn symposia the world over.

Performed worldwide at leading Jazz festivals (Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, Moscow, Idaho; North Sea Jazz Festival; Baltic Jazz, Graz Jazz Brass Festival, Salzburg Jazzherbst, Alpentone (Altdorf, Switzerland), jazz festivals in Leverkusen, Munich, Leipzig, Karlsruhe, Grenoble, Nurnberg, Beijing (China), Mulhouse, etc.).

In 1995, Andrey Feofanov produced Arkady's 1 st solo CD "Hornology". Since 1998, Andrey Feofanov heads new Boheme Music label which became Arkady Shilkloper's main record label (8 CDs with his participation have been released on Boheme Music (BMR). In 2000, Boheme Music (BMR) released Arkady Shilkloper's 2nd solo album "Pilatus" produced by Andrey Feofano

"Los Angeles Times", 26/11/90, by Leonard Feather: Moscow, Ida - It is a long trip from Moscow to Moscow, but for Arkady Shilkloper it was worth the effort. The Soviet French horn virtuoso was one of four Jazzmen from the Soviet Union who arrived here last week to take part in the 23rd annual University of Idaho Jazz Festival at his home town's namesake city. Shilkloper, 33, on his first visit to the United States was the artistic sensation of the four-day event.

"Horncall", 1988, by Jeffrey Agrell: Shilkloper and his bass player swing like nobody's business. He rips and riffs and goes places that horn players aren't supposed to go without a net, map, seat belt, crash helmet, overhead air support, and a note from their mothers. And he does so with extraordinary ease and musicality. I think maybe nobody ever told him "Jazz playing on horn is very difficult, and probably not natural or perhaps the phrase does not translate into Russian. I'd walk a camel a mile to hear this guy.

"Jazz Times", June 1994, by Leonard Feather: "Another was the incredible Arkady Shilkloper, who brought his French horn from Moscow, Russia to Moscow, Idaho His control of the instrument, and his blowing creativity have set a new standard, even Julius Watkins, his idol never produced such results."

"The Independent", London: "Unlike other European groups... the Moscow Art Trio don't have to try to sound Post-Modem, they just are, and in a way that is what makes what they play look and sound both utterly contemporary and timeless... Once word gets out, this will be the band to book for every Festival going".