Pavel Gililov, born in 1950 in Ukraine, was recognized early as a musical prodigy and studied piano at the Leningrad Conservatory, graduating with honors. While still a student, he won the National Piano Competition in Moscow (1972), the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw, and the International Viotti Competition in Vercelli (1st Prize).

He emigrated to the West in 1978 and continued an active career as both a performer and a teacher. From 1979 to 2013, he served as Professor of Piano at the Cologne University of Music, and since 2007, he has been Professor of Piano at the University Mozarteum Salzburg.

Gililov has appeared with leading orchestras and performed in major cultural centers worldwide. His recordings for labels including Deutsche Grammophon, RCA Victor, Toshiba EMI, and Orfeo have further established his international reputation. He has been featured at festivals such as Newport (USA), Barcelona, Salzburg Festival, Berliner Festwochen, Edinburgh, and Schleswig-Holstein.

In addition to his solo career, Gililov is deeply engaged in chamber music. He was a member of the Berlin Philharmonic Piano Quartet and has collaborated with renowned musicians, including Pierre Amoyal, Dimitri Sitkovetsky, Tabea Zimmermann, and Mischa Maisky. For over 25 years, he performed as a duo partner with Boris Pergamenschikow and later as part of a trio with Viktor Tretjakov and Karine Georgian.

In 2005, he founded the International Telekom Beethoven Competition Bonn, where he continues to serve as artistic director and jury president. Gililov leads masterclasses worldwide, is a sought-after juror at major competitions, and has premiered several works dedicated to him by contemporary composers.