A composer, interdisciplinary and performance artist Elena Rykova explores a wide variety of genres in music and performance art. She brings together instruments and found objects, extending one through another and creating performative musical situations, often with a strong visual aspect. Her scores are characterized by an innovative use of nontraditional notation, having been exhibited in art museums internationally. Her portfolio includes compositions for chamber and ensemble settings, music theater productions, and scores for acclaimed new music ensembles, alongside electroacoustic compositions and music for film and animation.

Past and recent collaborations involve: Musikfabrik, Frames Percussion, UFA Sextet, Nikel, IEMA, Curious Chamber Players, Mosaik, Nemø, Down the Rabbit Hole, Schallfeld, Calefax Reed Quintet, Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart, line upon line, the Black Page Orchestra, Linea, Opera lab Berlin, London Contemporary Ensemble, Garage, Gaagego, hand werk, and others.

Her music has been performed at festivals such as: Darmstadt Music Festival, ECLAT, Wittener Tage für neue Kammermusik, Klangspuren, MaerzMusik, WIEN-Modern, Klang, Tzlil Meudcan, Ensems, Mixtur, Warsaw autumn, Pré, ManiFeste, Bludenzer Tage zeitgemäßer Musik, New Talents Biennale in Cologne, Ultima, Impuls, and others.

She was an invited professor of composition at Catalonia College of Music (Esmuc), Ciel Composition Academy, Mixtur festival, and a lecturer at Bath Spa University, Robert Schumann Hochschule, Conservatory Superior de Música de València, Conservatori Superior de Música de Castelló, and others. Elena is a distinguished fellow of Junge Akademie der Künste in Berlin.

She holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University, where she also worked as a teaching assistant in composition and electroacoustic music courses.

Elena is currently based in Lausanne, Switzerland. She serves on the programmation committee of Société de Musique Contemporaine (SMC) and as a board member of Swiss Music Edition (SME).

Starting in August 2024, Rykova will take on the role of Artistic Director for the Basel-based ensemble Lemniscate, further solidifying her commitment to shaping the future of new music.