Maria Krykov studied in her hometown Helsinki, in Essen and at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler with Matthew McDonald. She has won prizes at various international competitions (including Bottesini, Markneukirchen) and received a scholarship from the Oscar and Vera Ritter Foundation. She has gained orchestral experience with the Berlin Philharmonic, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, among others. Before joining the Konzerthausorchester Berlin as principal double bass, she was associate principal double bass in the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra.