Serafym Ivanov
Pianist, composer, teacher
About me
Serafym Ivanov was born on December 21, 1997, in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, into a musical family. He displayed an early interest in music and began attending music school at the age of four, quickly
participating in concerts. Known for his ability to improvise, compose melodies, and play them by ear, Serafym won a regional piano competition at the age of eight, becoming the youngest
participant. He later competed in several international competitions, including the Ascension piano competition in Yalta, Crimea, where he won 3rd prize, and another competition in
Ukraine, where he took 2nd prize. Serafym continued his studies at the High College of Music in Mykolaiv, focusing on piano, composition, and conducting. During his time in college, he performed in various cities across Ukraine, won prizes at competitions, worked as an accompanist in an opera studio, and began teaching. His passion for Chopin led him to organize
a student theater in college, where he played the main role in a musical and dramatic performance based on Chopin's letters. In 2018, Serafym graduated with honors as a pianist,
composer, and chamber orchestra conductor.
He then attended the Odessa National Academy of Music, studying with renowned professors
Anatoly Kardoshev, Tatiana Shevchenko, and Alexei Botvinov. In 2019, he won 3rd prize at the
Chopin Competition in Vienna, Austria. In 2021, he participated in the 7th International Festival Odessa Classics.
In March 2022, Serafym moved to Germany, where he became a guest student and later a
master's student at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg (HFMT Hamburg), studying piano with Professors Hubert Rutkowski and Carolin Weichert, as well as composition
with Professor Gordon Kampe. He has performed in Germany, Italy, Poland, France, and Switzerland. Between 2022 and 2023, he was a composer-in-residence at festivals in France and
Belgium. He has been a finalist at the III International Polish Music Competition, the Elise Meyer Competition, and the Chopin Competition in Granada.
In July 2024, he participated in master classes and concerts at the Telemasterclass festival in Orio,
Italy. In November 2024 he performed five solo concerts aboard the Sea Cloud Spirit during its
transatlantic sailing tour. During winter 2024/2025, he played 10 concerts at the Swiss Mountain Clinic.
Studied with prof. Marina Scalafiotti as Erasmus Student during winter semester 2025 at Torino
Conservatory.
In January 2025 he recorded an album of his own compositions for piano.
Album "My Piano Evolution"
Serafym's videos get hundreds of thousands of views on Instagram.
