Vasily Dobrokhotov (January 20, 1872–January 9, 1939) was a Russian cellist and music teacher. He was born into a working-class family and began working as a locksmith in the railway workshops in Tbilisi. He became interested in the cello after hearing Karl Davydov perform in Tbilisi and, according to his own recollections, won his instrument in a lottery.
Dobrokhotov studied cello at the music school of the Tbilisi branch of the Russian Musical Society, in Ivan Saradjev’s class. He took part in symphony concerts with the school’s leading students, including Lev Zeitlin. From 1896 to 1900, he continued his studies with Alexander Verzhbilovich at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory.
From 1900 to 1902, he taught cello in Tbilisi; his students there included Samuil Samosud. He returned to Saint Petersburg in 1902 and played in Count Alexander Sheremetev’s private orchestra. With the orchestra, he took part in early Russian performances of Richard Wagner’s operas Tannhäuser and Parsifal.
Dobrokhotov moved to Baku in 1905. From 1906 to 1922, he taught cello at the music school of the Baku branch of the Russian Musical Society. His students there included Semyon Ginzburg, Artemy Ayvazyan, Armen Georgian, Mikhail Maluntsyan, and Isaak Turich. From 1923, he taught cello in Moscow. He died in 1939.