Ilona Timchenko, piano
Pianist Ilona Timchenko, born in Crimea, gained international recognition when she won the prestigious George Enescu Competition in Bucharest, where she was awarded First Prize—no Second Prize was given. Even before that, she had drawn attention at the Liszt Competition in Utrecht, where she won the Second Prize and the Critics’ Prize. These awards cemented her reputation as one of the most impressive pianists of her generation.
As a prize winner of numerous international competitions, she was also recognized at competitions such as the Beethoven Competition in Vienna, the Maria Callas Grand Prix in Athens, and the Orléans Competition for Contemporary Music.
Her performances have captivated audiences in major concert halls including Wigmore Hall in London, the Vienna Musikverein, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Oriental Arts Centre in Shanghai, the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, and the Teatro Monumental in Madrid. She has performed as a soloist with prestigious orchestras such as the Holland Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Flanders Philharmonic, the Academic Capella of St. Petersburg, the Royal Philharmonic of Galicia, the Orquesta Ciudad de Granada, and the RTVE Orchestra.
A dedicated interpreter of contemporary music, Ilona has premiered numerous works composed especially for her. She was the first pianist to perform Shostakovich’s 24 Preludes and Fugues in their entirety in Italy—in a two-part concert series uniquely intertwined with the poetry of Umberto Saba.
Her discography includes highly acclaimed recordings for Landor Records, RTVE, Albany Records, Bolamar, and other labels. Her debut CD featuring works by Brahms and Schumann was rated ‘Outstanding’ by the International Record Review and also received great acclaim in Gramophone. Her recording of the complete piano works of Antón García Abril received excellent reviews in BBC Music Magazine, Ritmo, and Melómano. New recordings are forthcoming on MDG Records and Challenge Classics.
As a passionate chamber musician, Ilona is a founding member of the Trio Metamorphoses, whose 2018 CD received international acclaim. Her wide-ranging repertoire—from Baroque to contemporary music—reflects her artistic curiosity and depth of expression.
In addition to her performance career, Ilona is also a sought-after educator and artistic director. She is the Head of Studies at the Centro Superior de Música de Galicia (CSMG) and teaches at the Escuela Superior Internacional de Música (ESIM) in Madrid. She is a regular guest professor at the Aurora Festival and Academy in the Netherlands, and the founder and artistic director of the international festival “Peregrinos Musicales” in Santiago de Compostela—a dynamic project promoting young talent through concerts, masterclasses, and mentoring.
Ilona received her artistic training from renowned figures such as E. Richter (Moscow Conservatory), A. Gold (Prince Claus Conservatory), Rian de Waal (Royal Conservatoire The Hague), Michel Béroff (Paris), and Lazar Berman (Florence). She also drew significant inspiration from personal encounters with Albert Lehman, Sofia Gubaidulina, Mark Lubotsky, and Antón García Abril.
