Igor Znatokov was born in 1970 in Odesa, Ukraine, into a family of musicians. He graduated from the "P. Stolyarsky" Special Music School, specializing in clarinet under the guidance of Professor G. Oriol (1987). He furthered his education at the "A. Nezhdanova" National Academy of Music in Odesa, earning degrees in clarinet (1992, class of Prof. K. Mulberg) and symphonic and opera conducting (2004, class of Prof. V. Vasylenko).

In 2003, he completed a specialization internship at Musikhochschule in Freiburg, Germany, under the mentorship of Maestro S. Sandmeier. In 2008, he trained with the "E. Svetlanov" State Academic Symphony Orchestra in Russia under the guidance of Maestro M. Gorenstein.

Professional Experience:

1997 – 2013: Principal Conductor of the Odesa State Circus Orchestra.

2003 – 2004: Conductor at the Odesa National Opera and Ballet Theatre.

2013 – 2019: Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of the "S. Lunchevici" National Philharmonic in Chișinău.

2018 – 2022: Principal Conductor of the Ukrainian Academic Musical-Dramatic Theatre "V. Vasilko" in Odesa.

From April 2024: Conductor at the "Maria Bieșu" National Opera and Ballet Theatre in Chișinău.

Collaborations:
As a conductor, Igor Znatokov has collaborated with renowned orchestras, including:

The Presidential Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine (Kyiv);

The National Academic Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine (Kyiv);

The Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra of the Odesa Philharmonic;

The Symphony Orchestra of the "M. Vodeanoi" Musical Comedy Theatre (Odesa);

The Symphony Orchestra of the "A. Nezhdanova" Music Academy (Odesa);

The Symphony Orchestra of the Donetsk Opera and Ballet Theatre (Ukraine);

The National Symphony Orchestra of the "Teleradio-Moldova" Company (Chișinău).