Denis Zhdanov was born in Magadan, Siberia. He started his piano studies at 8 and began his cello studies at 11. He studied with Prof. Galina Zubareva in the Central Music School in Moscow. Denis won the International A. Rubinstein competition in Moscow 1997 and was awarded in the same year by the Vladimir Spivakov Foundation. Denis won First Prize and Audience Prize at the International Brahms Competition and at the International Aram Khachaturian competition.