Ich bin 1980 in Vologda, einer kleinen Stadt im Norden Russlands geboten. Mit neun Jahren begann ich Klarinette zu spielen und 1998 zog ich nach Petersburg um, um am staatlichen Konservatorium zu studieren wo ich 2003 meinen Abschluss machte.

2000 fing ich an jüdische traditionelle Musik, bekannt als Klezmer, zu erforschen. Diese Musik ist bis heute meine Leidenschaft und Schwerpunkt.

Nach Ausbruch des Angriffskrieges in 2022 verließ ich Russland.

Heute lebe ich in Berlin, Deutschland.

Since 2012, I have been a permanent member of the band Dobranotch (Germany), with which I have performed in more than 20 countries, including the USA and Canada, and recorded seven CDs and one vinyl record.

In 2017, together with Israeli pianist Alexey Orelovich, I founded the international ensemble “Three Opinions”, whose main repertoire focuses on Jewish jazz.

In 2018, as part of the “Engel” ensemble, which I organized at the Yiddish Summer Weimar festival, I performed a series of concerts of Jewish classical music in Germany. Since then, I have been an active promoter and performer of works by composers from the St. Petersburg Society for Jewish Folk Music. I have personal permission to perform the works of Jakob Weinberg.

In 2019, I was invited as a special guest to the TV project “Quartet 4×4”, where I performed a Jewish composition with a quartet of Russian folk instruments.

For many years, I was a soloist in ensembles such as the State Academic Russian Orchestra named after V.V. Andreev and the National Instruments Orchestra “Terema”, performing Jewish music in China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia, and various European countries.

I also participated in theater productions of St. Petersburg theaters, including “The Spanish Ballad” and “Fiddler on the Roof”.Twice (in 2020 and 2022), I took part in the international project “Yellow Stars”.

On January 30, 2022, in the Grand Hall of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, I performed as a soloist in the premiere of the “Klezmer Concerto” for clarinet by American composer Vlad Margulis, accompanied by the Academic Symphony Orchestra of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, conducted by Anatoly Rybalko.

Since 2010, I have been teaching Klezmer music and for over ten years led the “Klezmer Workshop” at the Jewish Community House of St. Petersburg. My students continue to play and promote Jewish music in Israel, Turkey, Finland, Bulgaria, and Russia.

In 2024, several TV programs about Jewish music featuring my performances were aired on Bulgarian television.

Since 2025, he has been performing with violinist Pavel Shalman (USA-Austria) and accordionist Boki Radenkovic (Serbia-Austria).

Throughout my career, I have performed as part of various chamber ensembles.

For several years, I was a member of the St. Petersburg Contemporary Music Ensemble, where I participated in many premieres of modern composers’ works.

In 2022, I recorded the CD “Tiger Rag” with guitarist Alexey Stankov and double bassist Alexander Vasilyev, in the jazz-manouche style.

Since 2023, I have been collaborating with the Bulgarian swing dance band “Old Sea Company”.

Also since 2023, I have been performing in a duo with the brilliant Berlin-based classical pianist Marina Goshkieva.

In 2024, we prepared a new program with Moldovan guitarist Dmitry Illarionov.

In early 2025, I completed a concert tour with Canadian guitarist Roman Smirnov.

Since fall 2025, Ilya has been performing with Berlin-based accordionist Michael Saposchnikow, who is of Ukrainian descent. Their duo’s program includes Klezmer, Swing, and Jazz Manouche.