A concert pianist and piano teacher based in Oxford, Ilya is a musician of international reputation, who was born in Moscow and is a graduate of Gnessin’s Music Academy in Moscow as a pianist and a teacher.

As a performer, Ilya has studied with renowned masters of the "Golden age", such as Prof. Oleg Boshnyakovich, and iconic Russian virtuoso Prof. Mikhail Olenev. 

After completing his post-graduate course as a pianist, he gained another qualification as a choral master of Orthodox church services, and embarked in choral conducting at Moscow for several years. 

His accolade includes acting laureate for many internal and international competitions as a pianist, as well as for choir direction in his dedication to his service for the Christian community in Moscow. In 2023, he produced a concert of an orthodox christian music for concerts for venues including Pusey house chapel in Oxford.

His recent performances include a world premier of solo piano compositions and a Piano Trio by Jeremy Arden, streamed online from Holywell Music Room during lockdown. In 2022 he gave a premier of Arden's work at King’s Place London. With his regular duo partner and wife Maki Sekiya, he has been frequently featured in a concert series by the Orchestra of St John’s, and at a sold-out concert at the Hay Festival 2022 performing Rite of Spring on two pianos by Stravinsky.