Valentina Shatalova holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and a Master of Arts Degree from SUNY New Paltz with a major in Piano Pedagogy under the auspices of Vladimir Feltsman.  Other teachers include Maria Rakovskaya, Natasha Uspenski,  Dr. Robert Mumper, Frank Iogha and Eteri Andjaparidze.

A frequent performer throughout the NY Metropolitan and Mid-Hudson areas, Valentina maintains a busy schedule  as an accompanist, orchestral performer, soloist and vocal coach, Valentina collaborates with many professionals and students throughout the Hudson Valley in festivals such as Bachfest and NYSSMA.  She plays keyboards with both the Northern Dutchess Symphony Orchestra and the  Woodstock Symphony Orchestra and with WSO was a featured soloist in the Bach Brandenburg Concerto #5. Two special collaborations currently are the Two for You Piano Duo with fellow teacher and pianist Carol Losee, and the Shatalova-Young duo with violinist Marka Young. 

As an educator,  Valentina maintains a full piano studio in New Paltz, N.Y. Some of her award- winning students have continued their piano studies at Eastman, The Crane School of Music SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Fredonia,  Hartt School of Music, Ithaca and Oberlin College.  Valentina is on the teaching roster at the Ulster County Community College and has also conducted choirs and taught general music in public and private schools. The St. Augustine School Choir performed several times on the local airwaves spreading Christmas cheer.  Valentina is a member of both Music Teachers National Association and the American College of Musicians. 

A graduate and faculty member of the Synodal School of Liturgical Music, Valentina has grown up singing on the kliros and now sings and conducts the choir during services at the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Parish in Poughkeepsie, New York.  Valentina is indebted to her mother, Lydia Nikolskaya, who was a member of the Synodal Choir under the direction of B.M Ledkovsky for her love of Russian Orthodox Church Music and for her love of music in general!