Ilaria Cusano graduated in 1996 with the best marks from the Conservatory “G. Verdi” of Milan under the guide of her father Felice Cusano.
In young age she was the winner of several national and international competition like Pieve Emanuele, Macerata. Tortona, Olgiate Olona, Dasinamov in Lurisia, Palmi etc.
She also took part in  events like “Sagra Malatestiana” of Rimini  and the chamber music competition organized by RAI in co-operation with the Conservatory of Arco di Trento. In the August 1992 she  played in Osaka (Japan) at the worldwide Conservatory meeting.
She completed her studies at the Indiana University in Bloomington (Indiana) where in december 1998 she graduated from Performer Diploma under the guide of Professor Mauricio Fuks.
With the pianist Robert Arosio, her partner in chamber music from several years, she has played in several important Italian towns and  has  partecipated at many chamber music competitions:
1995 – first prize at Vittotio Veneto’s violin competition and first prize with honor mention for chamber music section;
1999 – second prize at the international Competition “Trio di Trieste” with the special prize C.A.I as the best European Duo;
1999 – “Tina Moroni”s prize at the international competition “Vittorio Gui” in Florence
2000- winner of the Italian competition  “Carriere 2000”  with  concerts  in the most important towns of South America and in Albania.  She has also played  as soloist  in Milano (Orchestra dei Pomeriggi Musicali), in Vicenza (Orchestra di Vicenza),  in Venezia (I solisti di Venezia) and for important

 chamber music seasons like        Torino.
2001- she has played at Quirinale in Rome for a chamber music  season organized by the Italian Radio.
She has made a  tour in South America(Buenos Aires, Curitiba, Sao Paolo etc.) as member of "Serenata Trio", a string trio  promoted By CIDIM in Rome.

From several years she plays regularly with the Orchestre des Champs Elisées  in Paris and with the Italian Group "I Solisti di Pavia" directed by the famous cellist Enrico Dindo. She teaches at Monopoli's Conservatory of Music.