A pupil of leading conductor Natan Rakhlin, Anatoly Tikhonov gives all his creative energy to furthering Russian folk instrument performance and teaching young musicians. Among his students are artists of merit, leaders of higher educational institutions, conductors and creators of professional folk music instrument orchestras. As an Honoured Artist of Merit, professor, Dean of the Folk Instrument Department, and conductor of the Students Russian Folk Instrument Orchestra, Anatoly Tikhonov is well known in his active work in musical society, as an honoured jury member, and chair of many competitions and music festivals. He has repeatedly performed with the Folk Instrument Orchestra in various cities throughout Russia. Anatoly Tikhonov has given a rebirth to parlour music on the concert stage through the sound of folk instruments.