In 1987 she graduated from the Gnesin State Music College, specialising in popular music performance (jazz orchestra instruments, saxophone).
In 1992 she graduated from the Gnesin Russian Academy of Music with a degree in saxophone from the Department of Popular Music.
In 1990 she became a laureate of the First All‑Russian Competition for Young Jazz Performers in Rostov‑on‑Don.
In 2001 she completed the assistant traineeship at the Maimonides State Classical Academy, specialising in musical art (chamber ensemble, saxophone).
Since 1995 she has taught at the Gnesin Russian Academy of Music, giving classes in jazz ensemble, the foundations of improvisation, and secondary and related instruments.
In 2006 Zhanna A. Ilmer undertook a training placement at one of the leading universities in the USA, the University of Louisville (Kentucky), in the Jazz Studies Department, studying with internationally renowned musicians and teachers such as Dave Liebman, David N. Baker, Ron Ried, Jim Snidero, Joe Coker, and others. This internship was certified by the University of Louisville and by the Education Department of the Library of Congress, USA.
In May 2008 she was awarded the academic title of Associate Professor, and in September 2013 she was appointed Professor in the Department of Instrumental Jazz Performance by decision of the Academic Council of the Gnesin Russian Academy of Music.
Twice a year the ensembles from Zhanna A. Ilmer’s class perform in leading Moscow jazz venues (the Composers’ Union Jazz Club, Igor Butman’s Club, and others), as well as at major concert halls such as the Central House of Arts Workers and the Moscow International House of Music, and in the jazz category of the student arts festival Festos.
In the 2011–2014 seasons the Art‑Beat Music Foundation of People’s Artist of Russia Alexei Kozlov organised a subscription series of twelve concerts for students of the specialisation and ensemble classes of Professor Alexander V. Oseychuk and Professor Zhanna A. Ilmer.
She has served as a jury member at:
- the All‑Russian competition Selmer for Children, jazz category (Moscow, 2010 and 2013);
- the International Competition for Children’s and Youth Creativity Rosa vetrov (Moscow, 2012).
Zhanna A. Ilmer maintains an active concert career and has taken part in numerous international jazz festivals.
Publications and textbooks:
- Methodological Guide to Improvisation for Saxophone and Other Wind Instruments, Brass Collegium, Moscow, 2004;
- Jazz Improvisation for Saxophone, Gnesin Russian Academy of Music, Moscow, 2007;
- model syllabi for third‑generation state higher‑education standards in the speciality Popular Music Performance;
- an educational programme for pre‑professional training of children, Woodwind Instruments: Saxophone.
In addition, Zhanna A. Ilmer is the author of numerous educational arrangements for jazz ensembles of various instrumental combinations for secondary and higher music institutions.
Discography:
- Alexander Oseychuk Presents Zhanna Ilmer: Posvyashchenie 2, Jazz Art Club, Russia, CD‑JAC 0115 (2007);
- Alexander Oseychuk and the Jazz Ensemble Zelyonaya volna: When Nothing Happens…, Jazz Art Club, Russia, CD‑JAC 0123 (2009).
