Tehran Times, Iran

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Tjeknavorian receives Austria’s gold medal of merit
Tehran Times Art Desk

TEHRAN — Iranian-born Armenian composer and conductor Loris
Tjeknavorian received Austria’s gold medal of merit in a ceremony held
at the Austria’s embassy here on Thursday evening.

The ceremony was arranged on the occasion of Austria’s National Day
(October 26) in which guests from Iran, Austria and several other
embassies in Tehran took part.

Several pieces by world famous musicians including Johann Strauss were
performed by musicians from Austria’s Cultural Association Orchestra
conducted by Tjeknavorian.

Tjeknavorian later made a short speech in Persian, English and German
and said, `I am proud that I was born in Iran and that I have an
Iranian nationality. I am also happy to be attending this ceremony on
the occasion of Austria’s National Day.’

He also remarked that he has always attempted to bring the arts and
cultures of different nations closer to one another, adding, `I have
always tried to familiarize the Iranian nation with world famous
classical music and also to familiarize the world with the riches of
Persian literature and music.’

Afterward, he was handed a gold medal and an honorary plaque.

Loris Tjeknavorian was born in 1937 in Borujerd in the southwestern
Iranian Province of Lorestan and was educated in Tehran.

After he studied violin and piano at the Tehran Conservatory of Music,
he studied composition at the Vienna Music Academy, where he graduated
with honors in 1961.

Tjeknavorian has performed throughout the world, having conducted
international orchestras in Austria, Britain, the United States,
Canada, Hungary, Iran, Finland, the former Soviet Union, Armenia,
Thailand, Hong Kong, South Africa, and Denmark.

His own compositions have been performed by major orchestras,
including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Helsinki Philharmonic
Orchestra, the American Symphony Orchestra in New York, and the Tehran
Symphony Orchestra.