PRESS RELEASE
USC Institute of Armenian Studies
Tel: 213-821-3943
Email: [email protected]
Advocate of Armenian Music to Play Two Concerts at USC
A devoted advocate of Armenian music, Vatche Mankerian, a pianist and
composer, will give two concert-lectures titled `A Retrospective of
Piano Music by Armenian Composers.’ The concerts will be held on the
University of Southern California campus in Bovard Auditorium on October
7 and October 14 at 4:30 p.m.
The first concert will include works by Spendiarian, Barkhoudarian,
Komitas and Khatchaturian. The October 14 concert will include works by
Baghdassarian, Mansurian, Harutiunian and Babajanian. It is believed
these unique concerts mark the first time a retrospective of music by
Armenian composers will be presented on a major American university
campus.
Ever since his sold out debut in 1985, at the Wilshire Ebell Theater of
Los Angeles, Mankerian has continuously gained recognition and critical
acclaim as a recitalist and soloist appearing with symphony orchestras.
A multi faceted artist, Mankerian distinguishes himself as a pianist,
composer, lecturer, teacher and author.
As a recitalist he has appeared in major cities on four continents.
Mankerian’s performances have received enthusiastic reviews from the
press, The Los Angeles Times affirmed `Mankerian performed with quiet
poetry… there was nothing assembly line about the reading.’ The
Cleveland Plain Dealer described him as `a bold and vibrant
performer.’
Mankerian is considered by many to be the leading interpreter of the
piano music of Arno Babajanian. In October 1995, Mankerian performed his
New York Debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall where he presented
Babajanian’s complete piano works. In April 1995, Mankerian gave the
U.S. premiere of Babajanian’s `Heroic Ballade’ for piano and
orchestra. In 1996, at Pasadena’s renowned Ambassador Recital Hall
Mankerian single handedly organized the only concerts outside of Armenia
celebrating Babajanian’s 75th anniversary.
Mankerian was featured in the Warner Brothers production of NBC pilot
`Witches of Eastwick’ performing the works of Chopin; he was one
of the Rhapsody in Blue pianists at the Olympic opening ceremonies in
Los Angeles in 1984; and was a featured artist at the Spirit of Armenia
concert at the Hollywood Bowl in July of 2007.
In addition to being a world class pianist, Mankerian, a USC Thornton
School of Music alum, serves as the program manager for the USC
Institute of Armenian Studies.
Housed in the USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences, the USC
Institute of Armenian Studies serves as a non-partisan center around
which the entire Armenian community can rally. USC College is the
university’s primary center for research in the basic sciences,
humanities and social sciences. It is the largest of USC’s 19 academic
schools.
Ticket sales from the concerts raise money for the Institute and are
tax deductible. For tickets and information, please email
[email protected] or call 213-821-3943.