Milana is a multi-award winning pianist, composer and singer-songwriter, who has been a performing and recording artist since her childhood. A strong lyricist and composer in her own right, Milana’s style is reminiscent of Tori Amos, Sarah McLachlan, Michael Nyman, Keith Jarret and Chick Corea. Milana enjoys playing by ear, improvising and using whatever inspires her to create her own style of playing. She is known as an adept improviser, catching melodies on the fly and expanding them into her own creations.

Milana was born in Ukraine, lived in Israel for many years and moved to Canada in 2008. Having lived in different countries has enriched her musical experiences and storytelling. Her songs touch on issues of belonging, identity, the inner child, war and peace, and life and death. Soulful singing and complex piano melodies are Milana’s signature, but she embraces a variety of styles – everything from folk, blues, opera and Middle Eastern, to her soft spots for rock and jazz.

Milana has published three books with original scores for solo piano, released twenty original full-length albums (solo piano, multi-instrumental and original songs in various genres), a few EPs and singles. More than 50 of her piano solo works have been featured on music editorials such as Apple Music’s “Piano Chill” or Amazon Music’s “Ultimate Classical” station. Her music has been streamed over 75 Million times on Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora and related platforms. In 2023 Milana’s orchestral and piano solo works were performed by Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra alongside compositions by Helge Burggrabe and Ralph Vaughan Williams for Bryan Arias’s ballet show based on “The Little Prince” story.

Since 2012, in addition to releasing original albums, performing live and teaching, Milana has taken piano and vocal performance in a commercial direction by doing session recordings, arranging, composing for films and online music libraries in her own studio located in Ottawa’s suburb. Milana provides full-service soundtrack and song production, as well as live-recorded piano and vocal on demand.


Awards and Nominations

2023, September - Silver Medal for “Composer” and “Classical Crossover” (“Metamorfosi” album) Global Music Awards.
2022, July - Silver Medal for “Jazz” and “Song” (“Memories of Paris” single) Global Music Awards.
2022, January - Silver Medal for “Original Score” and “Composer” (“Distant Memories” single) Global Music Awards.
2021, August - Nomination in “Instrumental/Orchestral” category at Hollywood Music in Media Awards.
2021, January - Silver Medal for “World Fusion” and “Composer” (“Abracadabra!” album) Global Music Awards.
2020, August - Nomination in “Jazz” category at Hollywood Music in Media Awards.
2020, April - Nominations in “A Capella Song” and “Used in Film / TV / Game Score Song” categories at The 18th Annual Independent Music Awards.
2020, February - Nomination in “2019 Classical Album of the Year” category at SoloPiano (“Where Giants Roam the Earth” album).
2020, January - Winner of “Classical Album of the Year” and “Classical Artist of the Year” International Music and Entertainment Association’s IMEA Awards.
2019, December - Nomination in “Classical Album of the Year", “Classical Artist of the Year” and “Music Video of the Year” categories for International Music and Entertainment Association’s IMEA Awards.
2019, October - Nomination in “Original Song - Documentary” category for Hollywood Music in Media Awards.
2019, September - “Public Vote” award in “Jazz” and “Music Video” categories for Global Peace Song Awards.
2019, August - Nomination in “New Age/Ambient” category for Hollywood Music in Media Awards.
2019, June - Silver Medal for “Composer” and “Album” (“Notte” album) Global Music Awards.
2019, March - Nominee for the “Best Solo Piano Album” Enlightened Piano Radio Annual Awards.
2019, February - Winner “2018 Jazz Album of the Year” Award at SoloPiano.
2019, January - Finalist in “Jazz” and “Music Video” categories for Global Peace Song Awards.
2018, December - Silver Medal for “Contemporary Classical Album” (“Where Giants Roam The Earth” album) Global Music Awards.
2018, November - Winner of “Best Classical Song” and “Best Instrumental Song” Radio Music Awards (Indie Music Channel).
2018, October - Winner of “Best Solo Piano Album” Enlightened Piano Radio Award.
2018, June - Winner of “Classical Song of the Year” International Music and Entertainment Association’s IMEA Awards.
2018, May - Bronze Medal for “Female Vocalist” and “Song” (“The Snow Queen Waltz”) Global Music Awards.
2018, March - Nominee for the “Classical Song of the Year” and “Classical Artist of the Year” International Music and Entertainment Association’s IMEA Awards.
2018, March - Nominee for the “Best Solo Piano Album” Enlightened Piano Radio Annual Awards.
2013, November - Editor`s Choice Award at AudioSparx.
2013, January - The only Canadian musician to be named “SoundCloud Hero” for being one of the most active and influential members of the SoundCloud community.

Concerts

Milana Zilnik tour dates

Past concerts

  • October 1st, 2017 - St. Luke’s, 760 Somerset Street West, Ottawa, Ontario.
  • May 21st, 2017 - Toronto Centre For The Arts, 5040 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario.
  • April 30th, 2017 - Gallery345, 345 Sorauren Avenue #3, Toronto, Ontario.
  • January 14th, 2017 - Infiniti Performing Arts Centre, 351 Ferrier Street, Markham, Ontario.
  • September 24th, 2016 - Ottawa Pianos & Keyboards, 1412 Bank Street, Ottawa, Ontario.
  • January 31st, 2015 - Soloway JCC, 21 Nadolny Sachs Private, Ottawa, Ontario.
  • June 13th, 2014 - RAW festival, Theatre Rialto, 5723 avenue du Parc, Montreal, Quebec.
  • May 29th, 2014 - RAW festival, Saint Brigid’s Centre for the Arts, 310 St Patrick St, Ottawa, Ontario.
  • June 22nd, 2013 - GigSpace Performance Studio, 953 Gladstone Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario.