Ivari Ilja

Ivari Ilja is a Professor of Piano and Rector at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (EAMT). A globally acclaimed accompanist and ensemble musician, he has collaborated with renowned artists such as Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Irina Arkhipova, Maria Guleghina, and Elena Zaremba, performing at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, La Scala, and the Bolshoi Theatre.

• Education: Studied piano at the Tallinn State Conservatoire with Professor Laine Mets and at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatoire under Professors Vera Gornostayeva and Sergey Dorensky.

His research and performance focus on Romantic and Classical Music, specializing in works by Chopin, Brahms, Schumann, Mozart, and Prokofiev. He has toured extensively with Dmitri Hvorostovsky across the USA, Europe, Hong Kong, and Japan since 2003.

As a composer and performer, Ilja’s expertise extends to Chamber Music and Solo Piano Repertoire, blending technical precision with interpretative depth.

Affiliations and Leadership: Head of the Piano Department at EAMT (2000–2015), current Board member of the Estonian Association of Professional Musicians, and President of the Estonian Music Council.