YerazArt Musicians

Shoghakat Vardanyan - Piano

Born in 1993 in Yerevan to artistic parents (her father a sculptor and painter, her mother a picture miniaturist), Shoghakat entered the Yerevan Tchaikovsky Special Music School in 1999 and started her studies with Professor Alexander Gurgenov who used to teach Nareh Arghamanyan. She continued her piano studies with Zara Vardanyan in 2006, and in 2007 she won 1st prize at the Spendiaryan National Competition Festival. In 2008, she was awarded 3rd prize at the 5th Saradjian National Competition for Young Pianists. In 2009, she was awarded 2nd prize at the 8th Arno Babadjanyan National Piano Competition. That same year, she was awarded the Special prize at the Veratsnund International Competition Festival for the best performance of Komitas music. As a pianist, she combines bright musicality with a delicate romantic spirituality. In May 2010, she was selected to represent Armenia at the International Delphic Games.

Mikayel Grigoryan - Cello

Born in 1997 in Yerevan to cellist parents, Mikayel he entered the Tigran Chukhadjyan Music College in 2002 and started his cello studies with Tiruhi Sargsyan. In January 2007, he entered the Spendiaryan Special Music School while continuing his studies with Tiruhi Sargsyan. In 2008, he joined the Haykanush Danielyan Music School and studied with Gayane Rafaelyan. At the same time, he was taking master-classes and consultations from a range of internationally acclaimed musicians, such as Narek Hakhnazaryan, Anja Lechner, Vaghram Saradjian, Milan Jankovic and Aram Talalyan. In 2005, he received the 1st diploma at the Spendiaryan National Competition Festival. In 2007, he received a laureate diploma at the same competition. He participated in talent- supporting programs and festivals, such as New Names and the Geronti Talalyan National Cello Festival. In 2010, he was awarded 1st prize at the Aslamazyan/Gabrielyan National Competition and a week later he won 1st prize and a golden medal at the Veratsnund International Competition Festival in Gyumri.

Rasa-Lila Buniatyan - Kamancha

Rasa-Lila was born in 1993 in Mayapur, West Bengal, India. Her father is a visual artist, her mother a singer, both originally from the Vayots Dzor region of Armenia. The family lived in India for ten years (until 1998), before moving to the USA where they resided until 2003. Rasa-Lila started playing the kamancha at the age of 13 and her rapid and outstanding progress soon earned her enrollment in the Ashugh Djivani Folk Music School. Her teacher is Ashugh Hover, and she studies under the general guidance of Merited Artist of Armenia Professor Tovmas Poghosyan while also taking master-classes from one of the best Armenian kamancha players, Hakob Khalatyan. Considered one of the most promising kamancha players of her generation, she was officially recommended by the Ashugh Djivani Folk Music School board to participate in the YerazArt 2010 concert tour program. Rasa-Lila is also a talented water-colorist.

Davit Hakobyan - Violin

Born in 1996 in Stepanakert to a pianist father and a violinist mother, Davit entered the Sayat-Nova Music School in Stepanakert in 2003, and took classes in piano and voice. In 2005, he switched to violin. Soon after, he participated in concerts and competitions and his teachers made special mention of his bright intellect, diligence and love for music. Davit has absolute pitch. In 2006, he participated in the 6th Arno Babadjanyan National Competition for young pianists and received a diploma of approval. In 2007, he was awarded 1st prize at the Artsakh Competition of Instrumental Classical Music in violin. That same year, he was laureate of the Spendiaryan National Competition Festival in Yerevan. In 2008, he was again awarded the 1st prize at the Artsakh Competition of Instrumental Classical Music in violin. He performed several times as a soloist with the Artsakh Chamber Orchestra. In 2009, Davit reached the finals of the Andrea Postacchini International Violin Competition in Italy and was awarded the Special prize of the jury. In April 2010, he won 1st prize at the Gabrielyan/Aslamazyan National Competition. In May 2010, he received a laureate diploma at the Veratsnund International Competition Festival in Gyumri.

Eduard Nersisyan - Saxophone

Born in 1991 in Yerevan, Eduard entered the Spendiaryan Special Music School in 2001, and the same year he was laureate of the British-Armenian Saxophone Competition Festival. In 2002, he was a laureate of the “Golden Ship” International Festival in Sochi, Russia. He has been a bursar of the New Names and Mission Armenia programs since 2002. In 2003, he was a laureate of the “Selmer-Paris” International Competition held in Kiev. Since 2004, he has been a bursar of the Vladimir Spivakov International Benevolent Foundation. In 2004, he was awarded a diploma at the 3rd International Delphic Games in Chisinau, Moldova. In 2005, he was awarded 1st prize and a Yamaha saxophone at the 1st Yamaha Saxophone Competition in Yerevan. That same year, he won 1st prize at the Spendiaryan National Competition Festival. In 2006, he entered the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory and studied with Professor Aleksandr Manukyan. He toured Belgium, Luxemburg and France, performing at the European Parliament Hall in Strasbourg and the Vladimir Spivakov 19th International Festival in Colmar. In 2008, he participated in the concert program of the Days of Armenia in Italy and in 2009, in the Benevolent Concerts program in the Armenia regions held under the aegis of First Armenian Lady Mrs. Rita Sargsyan. In 2010, he was awarded the President of Armenia Youth Prize for high performance art.

The YerazArt Fellows

Meet the young musicians who have taken part in our North American Concert Tours over the years. 

YA Class of Autumn 2010 (photos)
YA Class of Autumn 2009 (photos)
YA Class of Autumn 2008 (photos)
YA Class of 2007 (photos)
YA Class of 2006

YA Class of Autumn 2010

Shoghakat Vardanyan – piano
Mikayel Grigoryan – cello
Rasa-Lila Buniatyan -  kamancha
Davit Hakobyan – violin
Eduard Nersisyan - saxophone

YA Class of Autumn 2009

Mane Galoyan - voice, piano
Hayk Sukiasyan - cello
Norayr Gapoyan - duduk
Hripsime Aghakaryan - piano
Mane Harutyunyan - oboe
Hrayr Karapetyan - violin

CLASS BIOS

YA Class of Autumn 2008

Anahit Dilbaryan - piano, kanon
Vahan Davtyan - guitar
Hovhannes Aleksanyan - voice “ashughakan”
Arsen Petrosyan - duduk
Vardan Gasparyan - cello
Naira Grigoryan - violin

YA Class of Spring 2007

Gor Melkumyan - trumpet
Gayane Khachatryan - cello
Meri Khojayan - violin
Anahit Dilbaryan - kanoon, piano
Nara Avetisyan - piano
Serine Poghosian - Armenian folk singer
Haroutyun Chkolyan - duduk, shvi, clarinet, zourna
Lilit Khachatryan - violin

YA Class of 2006

Meri Badalyan - violin
Armine Harutyunyan - voice
Iren Pichikyan - flute
Ruzann Minassian - piano
Harutyun Chkolyan - duduk, shvi, clarinet, zourna
Sona Barseghyan - piano