Shevtzoff graduated from St. Petersburg Conservatory of Music, majoring in cello, minoring in bass, and studying bass with Zhdanov. He taught at the Glazunov School of Music (格拉祖诺夫高等音乐学校) in Harbin, and later served as principal cello of the Shanghai Municipal Orchestra (上海工部局乐队 ; 上海交响乐团). Shevtzoff was also the director and professor of cello at the Shanghai National Conservatory of Music (国立音乐专科学校 ; 国立上海音乐院 ; 国立上海音乐专科学校 ; 中央音乐学院华东分院). Returned to the Soviet Union from China in the 1950s.