Finnish composer Ilari Hylkilä was born in Toholampi in the province of Western Finland. Although his parents were not trained musicians, music was an important part of the household and two of Hylkilä children have pursued music careers.

Hylkilä began playing piano at the age of five and began composing melodies and rudimentary works at age six. At the age of fourteen he began trombone studies at Ostrobothnian Conservatory and joined Toholampi’s wind band. He graduated high school (Toholammin lukio) in 1997 and began his military service immediately after. For eight months of his service he was a trombone player in the Kainuu Military Band.

Following his military service Hylkilä enrolled at the University of Jyväskylä. He played trombone in the University’s Orchestra. It was this ensemble that gave the first public performance of his music, a piece called Missing a Lost Friend, in 1999. The orchestra would eventually perform three more of his works. Hylkilä graduated in 2004 with the Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations and a minor in Music. He has continued his music studies among others at the Sibelius Academy Open University.

Hylkila is a prolific composer and his catalog includes fourteen works for wind band, seven for orchestra, and numerous pieces for chamber ensemble. He has won prizes in six composition competitions and has been a finalist for several others. His music has been performed by the University of Helsinki Symphony Orchestra, the Conscript Band of the Finnish Defense Forces and many other ensembles. Hylkilä currently resides in Espoo, Finland.