Liya Grigoryan was born in Yerevan, Armenia, and grew up in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. At age five, Liya began taking part in piano competitions and performance tours throughout Russia and Europe. In 2010, she moved to Amsterdam to pursue a degree at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Liya has won high-profile international competitions and awards, including the Getxo Jazz Award and the Keep an Eye International Jazz Award. In 2018 she was selected as one of the semifinalists of the prestigious Thelonious Monk Competition. Liya actively performs in the United States and across Europe.