Avanesov to Present Works by Contemporary Armenian Composers

Armenian Weekly
Sat, Apr 17 2010

The Friends of Armenian Culture Society will host an afternoon
lecture/concert on Sun., May 16 at 4 p.m. at the Armenian Cultural
Foundation (ACF) in Arlington, Mass. Renowned composer and pianist
Artur Avanesov will discuss and present works by some of the most
promising, young Armenian composers, including Vache Sharafyan, Artur
Akshelyan, Aram Hovhannisyan, Vardan Harutyunyan, and Artur Avanesov.

Artur Avanesov
Artur Avanesov was born in Moscow. He began his formal music studies
in composition and piano at the Yerevan State Conservatory, graduating
with a doctorate degree in 2005, and later joined the faculty of the
conservatory as an assistant professor of composition. He is the
composer of numerous chamber, piano, and vocal works, and has
participated in several contemporary festivals, including the ISCM
World Music Days in Switzerland.

Avanesov’s list of awards include the 1st Prize at the Britten Chamber
Composition in 2003 and the Sarian Vocal Composition Competition in
2004, both held in Armenia. As a pianist, he possesses a repertory
spanning from the late Renaissance to the contemporary. He has
performed some 70 world premieres of piano works by composers from
Armenia, Georgia, Germany, Finland, and Portugal. In 2003 and 2004,
Avanesov participated in the famed Lucerne Summer Music Festival and
performed with an ensemble led by Pierre Boulez. Avanesov is also the
co-founder of the AUS Contemporary Music Ensemble (formed in 2001),
which performs works of emerging as well as established composers from
Armenia and abroad.

As a musicologist, Avanesov is the co-editor of the `Musical Armenia’
journal where he has published articles on the music of Stockhausen
and several fellow Armenian composers of today.

The May 16 event is free and open to the public. However, due to
limited space, reservations are encouraged. To make a reservation,
email info@facsboston.org. For more information on the Friends of
Armenian Culture Society, visit