One of the Top 10 Classical Music Events of the Year:

“The young Russian pianist made an astounding triple debut as part of the [San Francisco] Symphony’s Prokofiev Festival, playing the First Concerto, the Fourth Concerto, and the Seventh Sonata with vigor and virtuosity.”

—San Francisco Chronicle

“In Familiar Music, a Pianist Shows What He Can Do, Mr. Yakushev can do just about anything he wants . . . superb.”

—New York Times

“Yakushev was little short of heroic.”

—New York Times

Pianist Ilya Yakushev, with many awards and honors to his credit, continues to astound and mesmerize audiences at major venues on three continents.

The American Record Guide wrote, “Yakushev is one of the very best young pianists before the public today, and it doesn’t seem to matter what repertoire he plays–it is all of the highest caliber.”

Ilya has performed in prestigious venues worldwide, including Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Davies Symphony Hall, Sejong Performing Arts Center (Seoul), Great Philharmonic Hall (St. Petersburg), and Victoria Hall (Singapore). His performances with orchestra include those with the San Francisco Symphony, BBC Concert Orchestra, Boston Pops, Rochester Philharmonic, Utah Symphony, and many others.

In 2023-24, dozens of engagements bring Ilya from New York City to the West Coast for recitals, concertos, and—with members of the renowned St. Lawrence String Quartet—chamber music.

Winner of the 2005 World Piano Competition, which took place in Cincinnati, OH, Mr. Yakushev received his first award at age 12 as a prizewinner of the Young Artists Concerto Competition in his native St. Petersburg. In 1997, he received the Mayor of St. Petersburg’s Young Talents award, and in both 1997 and 1998, he won First Prize at the Donostia Hiria International Piano Competition in San Sebastián, Spain. Mr. Yakushev was a recipient of the prestigious Gawon International Music Society’s Award in Seoul, Korea.

Ilya studied with legendary pianist Vladimir Feltsman at the Mannes College of Music in New York City.

He is a Yamaha artist.