Ana Marija Ilić is an academic pianist, music editor, and cultural journalist whose work unfolds at the intersection of performance, research, and critical writing. She holds a degree in piano performance from the University of Zagreb Academy of Music, where she developed a strong artistic focus alongside a sustained engagement with music criticism and cultural analysis.
She is a pianist specialising in forgotten European composers and women composers, as part of an ongoing doctoral research project based in Amsterdam. Her artistic practice is closely connected to research-driven programming and long-term archival and interpretative work.
A landmark achievement of her career is that she became the first pianist in history to record the complete piano works of Croatian composer Ivan Matetić Ronjgov, a project of exceptional significance for Croatian musical heritage. This recording represents a major contribution to the preservation and contemporary reinterpretation of Ronjgov's oeuvre and has positioned her as a key interpreter of his piano music.
Alongside her performance and research activity, she works as a cultural journalist and music editor, regularly contributing essays, reviews, and interviews to Vijenac, the cultural journal published by Matica hrvatska. Her writing focuses on classical music, opera, and broader cultural themes, with an emphasis on context, interpretation, and critical depth.
Ana Marija Ilić has given numerous concerts and guest performances worldwide, appearing in a wide range of artistic and cultural settings. Her international activity reflects a commitment to presenting carefully curated programmes that connect repertoire, place, and historical perspective.