Zhilinsky was a Latvian composer, pianist, and Professor of the Latvian State Conservatory. During the First World War, his family fled to Kharkiv, modern-day Ukraine, where he studied at a music school. After returning to Latvia, he studied at the Latvian Conservatory. At the same time, Zhilinsky worked as a piano teacher at the Riga People's Conservatory (1927–1937), and from 1937 at the Latvian Conservatory. After the Second World War, Zhilinsky became the head of the piano department of the Latvian State Conservatory. Today he is mostly known as the author of many children's songs and piano compositions.