Mitya Nilov is a percussionist whose performances are praised for their vivid stage energy and distinctive musical voice. The depth, sincerity and sensitivity of his sound have captivated his audiences worldwide. 

One of the most dynamic percussionists of his generation, Mitya Nilov is a winner of the 2018 Concert Artists Guild International Competition. For the first time in fifteen years, the top prize of the competition was awarded to a percussionist. The award included management with Concert Artists Guild as well as an invitation to perform a solo recital at Carnegie Hall (Weill Recital Hall, New York). 

Nilov has appeared at major concert venues across Europe, Russia, and the United States, including Alte Oper (Frankfurt), Laeiszhalle (Hamburg), New World Center (Miami), the concert halls of the Saint Petersburg Philharmonia and the Moscow Philharmonic Society, the Great Hall of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, the Moscow International House of Music, the New Stage of the Alexandrinsky Theatre, and the Mariinsky Concert Hall.  He regularly appears as a soloist with orchestras and has collaborated with leading Russian symphonic ensembles, including the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra and the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra (Honored Collective of Russia). 

A passionate advocate for new music, Mitya has collaborated with leading contemporary composers including Hannah Lash, Lansing McLoskey, and Alejandro Viñao. Highlights include the world premieres of Second Percussion Symphony by Charles Wuorinen, Percussion Sonata by Aaron Israel Levin (written for and dedicated to Nilov), Prelude and Chorale by Hannah Lash, KHÁOS for percussion quintet by Rodrigo Bussad, and the U.S. premiere of RITE for two pianos and percussion by Lansing McLoskey. 

Chamber music lies at the heart of Nilov’s artistic work. Since 2020 he has developed a number of projects under the title “Mitya Nilov Chamber Music Laboratory.” His regular chamber music partners include violinist Dmitry Smirnov, double bassist Artem Chirkov, pianist Olesya Morozova, and percussionists Ksenia Komljenovic and Svet Stoyanov. 

Mitya Nilov holds a Specialist degree from the Rimsky‑Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory, a Bachelor of Music degree from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, and a Master of Music degree from the Yale School of Music, where he was a member of the world-renowned Yale Percussion Group. His primary teachers include Robert van Sice, Svet Stoyanov and Matthew Strauss.

Alongside his performing career, Nilov is active as an educator, presenting masterclasses and educational residencies at institutions in Europe, Russia, and the United States. These include the Saint Petersburg State Conservatory, the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music, the Special Music School of the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, the Gnessin Moscow Special School of Music, the University of Chicago, Florida International University, Texas A&M University (Corpus Christi and Kingsville), Colorado Mesa University, James Madison University, Radford University, and Tarleton State University. From 2016 to 2018 he participated in the Yale School of Music outreach program “Music in Schools,” teaching in public school music programs. Since 2021 Nilov has regularly been invited to present a series of masterclasses for musicians of the Russian National Youth Symphony Orchestra. 

In the 2022 to 2026 seasons, Mitya Nilov was a soloist with the CAGMO Orchestra. During this period, he performed more than 300 concerts in cities across Russia as well as internationally, including performances in Bangkok.

Being an associate conductor with the CAGMO orchestra, Mitya premiered over 10 concert programs with more than 50 conducting appearances throughout the 4 seasons.

Since 2016 Mitya Nilov is a Vic Firth Mallet Company Educational Artist. His concert activity includes solo, chamber, and orchestral projects, as well as collaborations with contemporary composers and performers of different generations.