Ilya Yakushev studied at the Rimsky-Korsakov College of Music in St Petersburg. He later moved to New York and continued his studies at the Mannes College under the legendary pianist Vladimir Feltsman.

In 2007 he appeared with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra under Michael Tilson Thomas at the Prokofiev Festival. That concert was described as one of the ten most important events in classical music in 2007 by the newspaper San Francisco Chronicle. In September 2009 Ilya Yakushev returned to perform with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra under Michael Tilson Thomas in a programme including Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto.

The pianist also collaborates with ensembles including the BBC Concert Orchestra, the Boston Pops orchestra, the symphony orchestras of Utah, Syracuse, Edmonton and Winnipeg, the philharmonic orchestras of Rochester and Rhode Island, the Symphony Orchestra of the St Petersburg State Philharmonic (Honoured Ensemble of Russia) and the Mariinsky Orchestra among others. Ilya Yakushev has presented recitals at the Musikverein in Vienna, Victoria Hall (Singapore), Carnegie Hall (New York), Davies Symphony Hall (San Francisco) and the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts (Seoul).

In October 2010 Yakushev recorded two discs with IY-Records – Prokofiev by Yakushev and J.S. Bach Partitas No. 1, 2 & 3. American Record Guide magazine noted that “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.”

In November 2013 Ilya Yakushev concluded a recording contract with Great Britain’s Nimbus Records. He is currently working with the company to release all of Prokofiev’s sonatas.

Ilya Yakushev has been a prize-winner at several international competitions. He won his first award at the age of twelve at the Young Pianists’ Competition in St Petersburg. Two years in a row (1997 and 1998) he won 1st prize at the International Piano Competition in San Sebastián (Spain). In 2005 the pianist won the Gold Medal and 1st prize at the World Piano Competition in the USA, while in 2007 he won the Gawon International Music Society Prize (Seoul) for his achievements in piano music.

Since 2002 Ilya Yakushev has served as the Executive Director of the International Keyboard Institute and the Festival at the Mannes College in New York.