School of Music
Ilia Radoslavov
Professor of Music
Head of Keyboard Area
B.M., State Conservatory of Music, Sofia, Bulgaria;
M.M., Southern Illinois University-Carbondale;
D.M.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison
Bulgarian-born pianist Ilia Radoslavov’s playing has been described as “superb in every way” ( American Record Guide ) and he has been hailed as a performer who reaches “high levels of purity” and “exquisite, pure sound … that leaves the audience breathless” ( The Beeld ).
Throughout his career, Radoslavov has been welcomed warmly and with accolades by audiences and critics alike, while appearing in numerous solo and chamber performances in prestigious venues in the United States, Europe, and South Africa. Most notably, he has performed as soloist in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Seattle’s Benaroya Hall, Pretoria’s Brooklyn Theater, and the National Palace of Culture in Sofia, Bulgaria. Among his festival appearances are the Johannesburg’s Olde’n’New Recital Series, March Days of Music in Ruse, Bulgaria, the Festival for Young European Talents in Potsdam, Germany, Illinois Chamber Music Festival, New Music Festival, Kirksville, Missouri, and the Fairbanks New Music Festival.
An enthusiastic and dedicated collaborator, Radoslavov has performed with such prominent musicians as Metropolitan Opera flutist/piccoloist Stephanie Mortimore, Canadain Brass French horn player Bernard Scully, and most recently distinguished South African violinist Zanta Hofmeyr and renowned Bulgaran violinist Stoika Milanova. His performances have been broadcast on NPR WUOT, Knoxville, Tennessee, Classic FM Radio, Johannesburg, King FM Evergreen Channel, Seattle, WSIU TV 8, Illinois, and the Bulgarian National Radio.
In 2016, Radoslavov conceived and completed the ambitious project to perform the complete set of Beethoven’s Sonatas for Piano and Violin with Zanta Hofmeyr, a prominent South African violinist, accompanied by a CD recording and a tour of South Africa.
His most recent recordings with the Blue Griffin recording label include a solo CD of Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition and Sergei Prokofiev’s Ten Pieces from Romeo and Juliet, Op. 75 , for which he received an Illinois Arts Council Grant, and a chamber music CD of three Bulgarian trios, Irminden: 100 years of Bulgarian Piano Trios Both projects were welcomed with high acclaim:
“A real imagination at work without distortion. … It would be difficult to recall a better way of spending 35 minutes than enjoying Radoslavov in his music.” — American Record Guide
“… his playing perfectly suited to Russian music. Think of the core traits of famous Russian pianists of the ilk of Richter and Gilels and one immediately imagines chiselled grandeur and tremendous power … . All of this fits Radolsavov, like a glove who gives an incredibly powerful performance of Mussogsky’s iconic Pictures .” — Fanfare Magazine
As the gold medalist in the 2009 Seattle International Piano Competition, Radoslavov has also served as one of the jurors for its 2010 edition. The list of recognitions in his name includes first prizes from the American Protg International Piano and Strings Competition, the Saint Louis Artist Presentation Society, UW-Madison Concerto Competition, UW-Madison Beethoven Piano Competition, National Mozart Competition, Sofia, Bulgaria, and National Piano Competition, Provadia, Bulgaria, as well as awards from the Missouri International Piano Competition, Joplin, Missouri, and the Hague International Piano Competition, the Netherlands.
Radoslavov holds a Doctoral Degree in Piano Performance from University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was a Paul Collins Distinguished Graduate Fellow, an award celebrating outstanding performing ability and musicianship. He graduated with high distinction and also holds degrees in Piano Performance from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and the State Conservatory of Music, Sofia, Bulgaria. His teachers include Christopher Taylor, Wilfred Delphin, Stella Dimitrova, Ilya Tchernaev. He has also worked with world-renowned Leon Fleisher, Richard Goode, and Ann Shein.
Radoslavov is in high demand as a master teacher, adjudicator, and clinician both in the US and Europe. He has taught master classes at University of Tennessee Knoxville, University of Chicago, Missouri State University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Drake University, Kansas State University, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle, Xavier University of Louisiana, Truman State University, State Conservatory of Music, Sofia, Bulgaria, and State College of Music, Ruse, Bulgaria. As a member of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), he is a frequent presenter and adjudicator for MTNA events. He is a regular adjudicator at the Illinois State Music Teacher Conference and is a founding member and former president of Bloomington Normal Music Teachers Association.