Born in Moscow, Igor Naidin studied at the Conservatory with Professors Maya Glezarova and Yuri Bashmet and, upon graduation, he won the prestigious Viola International Competition in Moscow. In 1985, he founded the Quartetto Russo with which he won prizes in a number of international competitions including the London International String Quartet Competition, Concertino Pragua and the Bellini competition in Italy. He joined the Borodin Quartet in 1996.
Born in Moscow, Vladimir Balshin studied at the Conservatory with Professor Natalia Shakhovskaya and, upon graduation, he won several prizes as a chamber musician including one at the London International String Quartet Competition. He was awarded a special prize by Mstislav Rostropovich at the Paris International Competition and is a laureate of the Tchaikovsky and the Antonio Janigro International Competitions. He joined the Borodin Quartet in 2007.