Yuriy Galkin was born in Russia into a family of musicians in 1982 and started to play classical piano at the age of 7. He picked up electric bass by the time he was 15 and after only a few months of self-teaching he was able to play professionally. A couple of years later Yuriy became interested in jazz and influenced by a number of great bassists including Paul Chambers, Ron Carter, Charles Mingus, Dave Holland, Niels Pedersen and John Patitucci started practicing double bass, dedicating himself to the world of jazz music.

Upon his successful completion of the high school, Yuriy was granted a space at 'MATI' Russian State Aeronautical University with the fees paid by the government. He undertook the undergraduate course and later accomplished a Master's Degree in engineering, but never gave up his musical studies working hard practicing and performing professionally with different bands.

It was in Autumn 2002, when Yuriy Galkin was heard by a notable Russian jazz bassist, professor of Russian Academy of Music named after Gnessins Alexander Veremiev, who was very impressed with Yuriy's achieved level and a great passion for jazz music and encouraged him to take official exams to enter the Gnessin Academy. In July 2003, after scoring the highest mark on his official audition, Yuriy Galkin was enrolled in the best jazz course in the country at Gnessin Russian Academy of Music with a full scholarship.

Yuriy's musical credits in Russia included performing at such significant venues as Le Club, JVL Club, Central House Of Culture Concert Hall to name a few. He received awards as both double bassist and bandleader.

In 2004 Yuriy Galkin traveled to London to take part in audition at the Royal Academy of Music where he was awarded a full scholarship for studies on a postgraduate course. Yuriy moved to London in 2005. At the Royal Academy Yuriy studied with such fine jazz musicians and teachers as Gerard Presencer (Herbie Hancock, Jamiroquai, Joe Locke, Rolling Stones, Sting), Jeff Clyne (Tabby Hayes, Ronnie Scott, Turning Point), Duncan Hopkins, Pete Churchill, Hans Koller, attending a number of masterclasses by Dave Holland, Larry Grenadier, Chris Potter, Joe Locke, Seamus Blake, Jeff "Tain" Watts and many others. Since completing his course Yuriy Galkin has established himself on the UK jazz scene both as a brilliant acoustic and electric bass player, performing at such major venues as Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, Barbican, The Vortex Jazz Club, Southbank Centre, The Bull's Head, The Drill Hall, and a creative and innovative composer and arranger. Yuriy Galkin won the prize for the composition competition in the UK led by great Tim Garland (Chick Corea, Lighthouse Trio, Acoustic Triangle) in Autumn 2007. As a part of the award Yuriy's piece was performed and recorded on tour by the Northern Underground Orchestra at such significant venues as Purcell Room, The Sage Gateshead, Turner Sims Hall, Corn Exchange and The Drill Hall. The lineup included jazz highlights Tim Garland, Jason Rebello, Gwylim Simcock, Asaf Sirkis, Richard Iles and many others.

Yuriy Galkin’s compositional influences vary from jazz legends Kenny Wheeler, Dave Holland, Fred Hersch and Wayne Shorter to classical composers Stravinsky, Bartok, Tchaikovsky, Messiaen and Shostakovich to name a few.

In 2008 Yuriy Galkin formed his own 9-pieces Symbiosis Jazz Orchestra performing his original compositions. The lineup includes 2 trumpets, trombone, alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax (dbl. bass clarinet & soprano sax), acoustic & electric bass, piano and drums. The band features such outstanding players as Freddie Gavita (British Rising Star Jazz Award, Empirical), John Turville (Tim Garland, London Jazz Award 2010), Richard Turner (Gary Husband) and has already made a number of appearances on the jazz scene getting a reputation of one of the most powerful large jazz ensembles today.

In October 2009 Symbiosis Orchestra recorded its first CD presenting 7 of Yuriy’s original pieces. The CD is due to be released soon on F-IRE PRESENTS record label.

In February 2010 Yuriy Galkin became a winner of prestigious 'THE DANKWORTH COMPOSITION PRIZE 2010' for his tune 'Evolvent' written and arranged for 9-piece orchestra. The composition was performed and recorded on its official presentation night at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London on March 24th, 2010.