Shklyaeva Ekaterina

Shklyaeva Ekaterina, (honourably and respectfully referred to by her surname only, as is Ud tradition,) is one of the eight singers that makes up the famous group known as The Buranovo Grannies. By the start of the main storyline, she is seventy-five years old, making her one of the oldest of the performers.

When Ekaterina was very young, her mother fell ill. This forced Ekaterina to leave school and take upon herself all of the housework. She moved to, and worked at, the Izhevsk mechanical factory, and later on went to be a painter and plasterer at a construction site. She did marry, however, her husband died six years after their marriage. Due to this event, Ekaterina went back to her home village and has worked in agriculture until she reached retirement age.

Ekaterina is known for her key-perfect voice, which is often used to make sure everyone else is hitting the right key. It is also common knowledge that she makes the best sour cabbage, and her pockets are filled with bread for any birds she may pass by. When in the gardens after performances, she is said to be flocked by pigeons, ducks and sparrows. Ekaterina makes sure that she manages to feed some birds at every single place she performs at.

Ekaterina raised three children, whom gave her five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.