Born in 1976 in Finland, Ilmari is the Co-Principal cellist of the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra, Norway. He began his professional training with Anatoly Nikitin, (assistant of Rostropovich) at the St.Petersburg State Conservatory in Russia, and obtained his postgraduate Diploma from the Royal Academy of Music of Stockholm (class of Torleif Thedeen, disciple of Tortelier). First prize recipient of the Lahti Chamber Music Competition, Ilmari has also performed as soloist with orchestras such as the Swedish Radio Symphony, the Lima Philarmonic, the Lima Symphony Orchestra, Stavanger Symphony Orchestra and the Prague Chamber Orchestra. As guest artist he has taken part in the following festivals: Mlada Praha Festival of Prague, Bergen Festspillene, the International Chamber Music Festival of Stavanger, Lukas David Chamber Music Festival of Lima, Peru, and Music Festival of Aghios Nikolaos, Crete. In Japan he has given solo recitals in Tochigi and Fukushima. He has also performed in South Africa, at the Musaion Hall of Pretoria, given recitals in Pasto, Colombia, invited by Banco de la Nacion, as well as in the USA, at the Cervantes Institute and the Fazioli Salon Series in Chicago. His recordings include broadcastings for the Swedish Radio, Chicago Classical Radio WFMT 98,7 FM and a CD with his SKASEI Trio presenting works by Mozart and Beethoven, released in 2007 by the Italian label Azzurra Music. As teacher Ilmari has served since 2004 as faculty member of the Music department of Stavanger University and the St.Svithun Music High School, giving individual classes as well as teaching chamber music and orchestral technique. He has also given master classes in Peru and South Africa. For five years, between 1995-1999, Ilmari was Principal cellist of Orkester Norden.