Igor Ardašev (Brno, 1967) practiced his piano skills with Inessa Janíčková at the Brno Conservatory as well as at Janáček Academy of Arts. He extended his education at master classes of Paul Badura-Skoda and Rudolf Serkin. He continued his youthful success (Smetana Competition and Concertino Praga) with a 5th place at the Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow in 1987 and by a laureate title from the Prague Spring International Competition in 1988. In the 90's he received 1st prize at the Maria Callas Competition in Athens, 6th prize at the Queen Elisabeth Competition and the title of laureate at the Marguerite Long and Jacques Thibaud Competition in Paris. Today he has a list of successful recitals behind him (Europe, America, Japan) as well as numerous excellent recordings.

The most interesting include solo projects (Tchaikovsky, Liszt, Beethoven, Dvořák, Ježek, Janáček, Martinů) as well as a four-hand version of Janáček's overture Jealousy realized together with Rudolf Firkušný. His discography was recently complemented by recordings of Dvořák's Slavonic Dances and Smetana's My Country in the four-hand version with his life- and artistic partner, Renata Ardaševová.

Igor Ardašev cooperated with many renowned local (Czech Philharmonic, Brno Philharmonic, Janáček Philharmonic Ostrava, Prague Symphony Orchestra, Virtuosi di Praga) as well as foreign orchestras (BBC Orchestra London, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Odense Symphonic Orchestra). He performs at principal local festivals (Prague Spring, Moravian Autumn, Concentus Moraviae, Janáček May, Český Krumlov International Music Festival) as well as foreign events (Hong Kong Arts Festival, Festspiele Europäische Wochen Passau, Internationales Musikfestival Schleswig-Holstein, Edinburgh International Festival, Musica Mundi Waterloo, Ohridsko leto).

Recently he was invited by the Orquesta de Valencia (2004, Dvořák's Piano Concerto), Edinburgh International Festival 2005, a cooperation with the Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire (Poulenc: Concert for two pianos together with Renata Ardaševová), and the Malta National Orchestra where he guest performed in 2005 (Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto no.2) and in 2006 (Beethoven: Triple Concerto, Op. 56).