Born in Kazakhstan, Ivan spent his early childhood there before his parents relocated to a small town near Moscow, Russia to continue his musical training. A graduate of the Tchaikovsky Moscow Conservatory (with highest honors, Profs. Eliso Virsaladze, Mikhail Voskresensky) and Mannes School of Music in New York (Prof. Jerome Rose), Ivan very naturally combines different performing traditions in his performances. As musicologist Prof. Allan Evan once described Ivan, "he is a profound, genuine musician who makes each note live and transport you to another existence".
On November 17, 2018 Ivan's recital program will take the audience on a historic journey of musical works of different epochs and styles: from subtle and intimate Scarlatti's Sonata in F minor to Mendelssohn's very romantic Variations Serieuses, two Etudes-Tableaux by Rachmaninoff that evoke vivid visual images, Scriabin's very lyrical and passionate Sonata-Fantasia, and then from two Debussy preludes to Mussorgsky's mysterious Pictures at an Exhibition.

Ivan is a winner of the 3rd Gershwin International Music Competition in New York, as well as a laureate of several international piano competitions. His concert engagements include solo recitals and performances with orchestra in the US and abroad.