Trifonov was born in Nizhny Novgorod, Soviet Union on 5 March 1991, the only child of a composer father and a music teacher mother.
 He began studying the piano at the age of five, and gave his first solo concert at seven.
When Trifonov was eight years old, he gave his first performance with an orchestra in a Mozart concerto, losing one of his baby teeth during the performance.
In 2000, the family moved to Moscow, and Trifonov began studying under Tatiana Zelikman at the Gnessin School of Music.
He also studied composition with Vladimir Dovgan from 2006 to 2009.
In 2009, at the recommendation of Tatiana Zelikman, Trifonov commenced studies with Sergei Babayan at the Cleveland Institute of Music, receiving an Artist Certificate in 2013 and an Artist Diploma in 2015.
Of his student, Babayan said: "Having a rare diamond like Daniil Trifonov in my studio is a huge responsibility and happiness.
Just like for a parent realizing that his child is more than very special, [...] I wouldn't want to use too strong words, but I think there are very few musicians like Daniil in the world.
He is the music for me."
While at the Cleveland Institute of Music, he was also a composition student of Keith Fitch.
Trifonov was born in Nizhny Novgorod, Soviet Union on 5 March 1991, the only child of a composer father and a music teacher mother.  He began studying the piano at the age of five, and gave his first solo concert at seven. When Trifonov was eight years old, he gave his first performance with an orchestra in a Mozart concerto, losing one of his baby teeth during the performance. In 2000, the family moved to Moscow, and Trifonov began studying under Tatiana Zelikman at the Gnessin School of Music. He also studied composition with Vladimir Dovgan from 2006 to 2009. In 2009, at the recommendation of Tatiana Zelikman, Trifonov commenced studies with Sergei Babayan at the Cleveland Institute of Music, receiving an Artist Certificate in 2013 and an Artist Diploma in 2015. Of his student, Babayan said: "Having a rare diamond like Daniil Trifonov in my studio is a huge responsibility and happiness. Just like for a parent realizing that his child is more than very special, [...] I wouldn't want to use too strong words, but I think there are very few musicians like Daniil in the world. He is the music for me." While at the Cleveland Institute of Music, he was also a composition student of Keith Fitch.
Daniil Trifonov