Boris Zakharov was a Russian pianist and music teacher. He was born in St. Petersburg on 13 December 1887 and came from the family of Stepan Zakharov, a first-guild merchant and major timber trader, and Yulia Durdina. He died in Shanghai on 30 January 1943.
Zakharov studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, where in 1906 he met Sergei Prokofiev in the class of the composer Anatoly Lyadov. Their acquaintance developed into a friendship: Prokofiev dedicated his Prelude in C minor to Zakharov, while Zakharov invited him to stay at his father's country house in Terijoki. They later studied together in the piano class of Anna Yesipova; Prokofiev credited Zakharov with helping him transfer into her class.
After graduating from the conservatory in 1913, Zakharov continued his studies in Vienna with Leopold Godowsky. From 1915 he taught special piano at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, becoming a professor in 1919.
In 1916 he married the violinist Cecilia Hansen, and their daughter, Tatiana, was born the following year. The couple took part in musical evenings held at Ilya Repin's Penaty estate. In 1921 they moved abroad and gave many performances.
Zakharov eventually settled in Shanghai. In October 1929, on the recommendation of the violinist Fu Hua, he accepted a position at the Shanghai Music Institute, becoming head of its piano department and teaching seven Chinese piano students. Although initially doubtful about the prospects of teaching Chinese students, he soon revised his view and praised the pleasure they gave him. As a concert performer, he introduced Chinese audiences to Russian classical music. He also chaired the Chamber Music Society and the music section of the Shanghai Art Club.
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