ARNO BABAJANYAN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION-FESTIVAL FOR JUNIOR AND YOUNG PIANISTS
Members of the jury 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023
Svetlana Navasardyan
(Armenia)
Svetlana Navasardyan is universally recognized Armenian pianist. She is a laureate of the Schumann, Bach, Queen-Elizabeth and Sidney international piano competitions. She performs at high-profile international festivals and the major concert halls around the world- the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory, the Opera House of Sydney, the Palais des Beaux-Arts of Brussels, the Salle Gaveau of Paris, the Gewandhaus of Leipzig, the Teatro Colon of Buenos Aires, the Asahi Hall of Tokyo, the Phoenix-Hall of Osaka, the Nybrokajen of Stockholm. Navassardian has widely toured internationally with recitals in the USA, Canada, Great Britain, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Japan, China, Australia, Egypt, Kuwait, and elsewhere.
A guest professor at Yerevan Komitas Conservatory; Svetlana Navasardyan is affiliated closely with prominent musical institutions, Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris, Lille Academia in Stockholm, Hochschule Essen in Germany, as well as other musical establishments in France, Germany, Japan. In 2010 she was awarded St. Mesrop Mashtots Order, the Armenian highest government award.
Armen-Levon Manaseryan
(Armenia)
Armen-Levon Manaseryan is a German-based Armenian concert pianist, recording artist, and
president of the Armenian Pianists Association.
Armen-Levon Manaseryan studied Piano Performance at three different conservatories in three
countries: the Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan in Armenia, the Royal Conservatory of Liège in
Belgium, and the Musikhochschule Münster in Germany.
He has won multiple awards at International Piano Competitions worldwide and has performed at
renowned festivals and played with various orchestras, ensembles, and artists in Armenia, Belgium,
Germany, France, Austria, Spain, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Poland, Malta, Portugal, Kazakhstan,
The Russian Federation, and many other countries.
Armen-Levon has recorded several albums with Spanish KNS Classical, American Navona Records
(parent label: PARMA Recordings), and other labels. He is also a musical illustrator, having created two
unique projects featuring his own paintings with his piano recitals.
Additionally, he is the founder of the VITRAGE International Festival in Brussels and the Art Next To
Kids charity art project for children with special needs and autism. He loves to share his knowledge
and often gives master classes, including recently having a piano class at a German State music
school.
Франк Лeв Александрович
(Россия)
В 1969 году окончил Московский государственный музыкально-педагогический институт имени Гнесиных по классу профессора, Заслуженного деятеля искусств России Бориса Моисеевича Берлина. В этом же году начал педагогическую деятельность в Уфимском институте искусств. Также с 1969г. работаю как исполнитель по линии филармонии. За эти годы сыграно огромное количество как сольной фортепьянной музыки, концертов с оркестром, так и камерной литературы. Гастролировал и продолжаю гастролировать по городам России: Самара, Саратов, Волгоград, Казань, Набережные Челны, Челябинск, Миасс, Златоуст, Магнитогорск, Оренбург, Орск, Бузулук, Москва, Санкт-Петербург. В разные годы гастролировал в Италии, Франции, Германии и Израиле.
В сольные концертные программы включены произведения музыки периода барокко, венских классиков, романтического периода 19 века а также большое количество сочинений выдающихся композиторов 20 столетия. В последние годы сделано много записей на видео диски.
В 1999году было присвоено звание Заслуженного артиста Башкортостана, а 2010-звание Заслуженного артиста РФ. Имеются яркие отзывы видных музыкантов, Народных артистов России В.К.Мержанова, А.З.Бондурянского, Р.О.Багдасаряна и известного композитора, долгое время возглавлявшего Союз композиторов России, В.И.Казенина.
Являюсь дипломантом 2-го Всероссийского конкурса музыкантов-исполнителей в г.Москва и лауреатом международного конкурса в г.Кастеланетта (Италия). Среди моих учеников-лауреаты и дипломанты российских и международных конкурсов, гастролирующие артисты и преподаватели, доценты и профессора Российских, европейских и американских музыкальных учебных заведений.
Suren Zakaryan
(Armenia)
Suren Zakaryan was born in Yerevan in a family of musicians. In 1981 he graduated from the piano department of the Moscow State Peter Tchaikovsky Conservatory, in 1983 from the postgraduate course of the same institution (class of prof. L. Vlasenko). In 1985 he graduated from the composition department of the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory (class of famous Armenian composer Edward Mirzoyan). Suren Zakaryan was a laureate of several prestigious international competitions. He is the author of a symphony, chamber works performed in Europe and USA by famous artists. For nearly two decades he headed the Piano department of the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory.
Vag Papian
(Israel)
Vag Papian was born in Yerevan. He studied piano at Yerevan and Moscow Conservatories (with prof. V. Sargsyan and M. Voskresensky). In 1980 he received his PhD at Moscow Conservatory. Vag Papian participated in the Vianna da Motta International Competition and received the Second Prize (Lisbon, Portugal, 1979). In 1980 Papian returned to Armenia, to continue his professional activity as a pianist and pedagogue at Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory, assisting prof. G. Sarajyan. Since 1981 he has toured extensively throughout the former Soviet Union countries and abroad. From 1982-87 Vag Papian studied at the Conducting Department of Leningrad (St. Petersburg) Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory with famous Ilia Musin. In 1984 he took over the function of Associate Conductor of the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, and later (1987-1989) its Artistic Director and Principal Conductor. In 1990 Papian moved to Israel. From 1990 he teaches at Tel-Aviv Conservatory and leads the chamber orchestras “Camerata” and “Sinfonietta”. Maestro Papian has guest-conducted the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and many Jewish opera theatre performances.
Kadri Leivategija
(Estonia)
Kadri Leivategija graduated from the Tartu H. Eller Music College, then the Estonian Academy of Music and Drama (Piano department), as well as received Master's degree in Chamber music. She gives piano and chamber ensemble classes at the H. Eller Music College for more than 30 years. Also gives chamber music classes at the Estonian Academy of Music and Drama.
Her students participate in numerous national and international competitions and win 1st prizes and medals.
K. Leivategia has been the Tartu H. Eller Music College`s director since 2001. She ran a number of contests and festivals in various disciplines during this time (for example, the Estonian Competition for Young Pianists, the International Chamber Music Festival FEsTaRi, etc.). She established numerous cultural and educational initiatives, coordinated trainings and seminars for Union of Estonian Music Schools members. K. Leivategia belongs to numerous unions and organizations that are involved in Estonian and European musical life. She is a chairperson of Association of Estonian music schools, member of Association of Estonian professional musicians, member of the Estonian assosiation for advancement of vocational education, member of European chamber music teachers' association, member of European music school union.
Armine Grigoryan
(Armenia)
Armine Grigoryan is one of the brightest representatives of Armenian contemporary pianists. She received her musical education first in Yerevan P. Tchaykovsky specialized secondary music school, then in Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory and postgraduate studies under the supervision of prof. G. and S. Sarajyans. Armine Grigoryan as soloist and chamber musician has toured CIS, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, Austria, Check Republic, Spain, Belgium, Bulgaria, UAE, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Baltics, China, Japan, Australia, USA, Canada, Mexico and others. She became a Double Laureate of “Roma 2003” International Pianists Competition, where she also was awarded a Special Prize and Medal of the Chamber of Deputies of Rome. In the same year her piano duo “Sonet” won prize of International Competition, organized by “Frederic Chopin” Association in Rome, and took also Special prize for the Best Performance of pieces by Sergio Calligaris. Since 2005 Armine also shines in her concert programs as a pianist of the Aram Khachaturian Trio along with the talented musicians – violinist K. Shahgaldyan and cellist K. Kocharyan. Outside of Armenia the concerts of Trio were held in many prestigious concert halls of the world (Vienna, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, London, Tokyo, Toronto). Together with the other members of the Trio Armine Grigoryan established the Classical Music Development Foundation, with the aim to propagandize the Armenian composers’ works and to support young gifted musicians.
She was awarded the Medals of the Ministry of Culture of Poland and Armenia. She is a professor of the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory. Since 2004 she is the director of the Aram Khachaturian House-Museum.
Hayk Melikyan
(Armenia)
Hayk Melikyan is recognized internationally as one of the most versatile and imaginative performers of the 20th century and contemporary music and among today's most engaging virtuoso pianists by classical music audiences and critics. He started playing piano when he was six with I. Grishinskaya, later his professional studies were continued with prof. A. Gourgenov at the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory. He leads an active concert life, playing throughout Europe, Asia and the America on prestigious stages such as Geneva’s Victoria Hall, Lisbon Gulbenkian Grand Auditorium, Amsterdam Conertgebouw, Tokyo’s Santory Hall, etc. Hayk Melikyan is a laureate of International Piano Competitions, such as Concours d’Orléans (France), Ibla Grand Prize (Italy), Yvar Mikhashoff Trust for New Music (USA), Premio Valentino Bucchi (Italy), etc.
In 2009, the pianist created a series of concerts called 1900+, dedicated to the 20th century and contemporary world piano music. He was awarded with a Gold Medal by Moscow Composers Union in 2012. In 2013, Hayk Melikyan received the title of an Honorary Artist of Armenia. Hayk Melikyan's solo album “Arutiuanian” was selected as “The Best Classical Music Album of the Year” at the annual National Music Award 2018. Hayk Melikyan regularly holds piano master classes around the world and performs at the prestigious festivals.
In 2019, the Aurora Prize has invited Hayk Melikyan to perform with the Mariinsky Orchestra under the baton of V. Gergiev.
Raffi Kharajanyan
(Latvia)
Doctor of arts, professor,
Graduate of the Leningrad State Conservatory and postgraduate studies (class of professors P. Serebryakova and L. Barenboim).
For more than 40 years, he performed almost all over the world as part of the piano duo "Rīga Piano duo" with Nora Novik.
Member of international performance juries in St. Petersburg, Tokyo, Kaunas and elsewhere.
Author of many books and articles published in publications of different countries, as well as author of works and arrangements for piano duet (some published).
President of the Association of Latvian National Cultural Societies (LNKBA, which includes more than 20 different national cultural societies),
Knight of the Order of the Three Stars, the highest state award of Latvia.
Member of the Editorial Board of the Art History Magazine of the NAS of Armenia.
Sergey Sarajyan
(Armenia)
Sergey Sarajyan, a pianist, professor at the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory and Honored worker of culture of Poland Republic, was born in 1945 in Yerevan, Armenia. In 1974, he graduated from the Piano department of Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory and later taught at the same department. From 1977 to 1987, he and his brother Vahram Sarajyan went on tours throughout Armenia and abroad. He was frequently a jury member and president of national and international music competitions and festivals, gave master classes both in Armenia and abroad. He established the publishing house of Yerevan State Conservatory and started the "Yerajisht" newspaper. Sarajyan was the rector of Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory from 2002 to 2011. He was awarded with the Gold Medal by the RA Ministry of Education and Science in 2005, and the 2nd degree medal “For Services to Homeland” in 2011.
Alexander Garber
(Georgia)
Alexander Garber (Georgia)
Pianist
Born in Moscow, Russia Alexander Garber graduated from the State Musical and Pedagogical Institute (now Gnesin Russian Academy of Music) and pursued postgraduate studies there beginning in 1971.
He was a teacher of the Piano Department at the Ufa State Institute of Arts for ten years.
Since 1981, he was the assistant lecturer and then professor of the Piano Department at Tbilisi State V. Sarajishvili Conservatory. Alexander Garber is the head of the Piano Department of Tbilisi Z. Paliashvili Central Music School.
His students are laureates and winners of national and international prestigious competitions. They live and give rehearsals nearly in every country of Europe, as well in the USA.
He performed a lot of concerts throughout the former Soviet Union countries and Europe. He regularly takes part in the work of jury of defferent national and international competitions and holds piano master classes.
Vagharshak Harutyunyan
(Armenia)
Born in Yerevan, Armenia, Vagharshak Harutyunyan studied at Yerevan State Conservatory with prof. S. Barseghyan. Looking back at his impressive career, he established himself as one of the leading pianists and pedagogues in Armenia. Since 1988 Vagharshak Harutyunyan has been a professor of Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory. His international career has included many solo recitals in Canada, Greece, France, Lebanon, Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine.
From 2011-2018 he worked as vice-rector on Academic Affairs of Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory. He was also the Musical Director in Public Radio of Armenia for a period of time.
Over 30 laureates of different international competitions are the result of his passionate and tireless pedagogical activity. Some of his previous students now have become winners of prestigious piano competitions, such as Aram Khachaturyan, Maria Canals and Long-Thibaud-Crespin international piano competitions.
Vagharshak Harutyunyan was awarded “Best Teacher” Diploma by many international piano competitions (“Sky and Earth” (Russia), “Juzeppe Teraccano” (Italy), Tbilisi’s piano competition, Scriabin piano competition (France). He has given numerous master classes in different countries and is a jury member of many international piano competitions. He has been awarded “Grigor Narekatsi” Medal and Golden medal by Ministry of Culture of Armenia. He has been recognized as “Honored Teacher” of Armenia as well.
Gayane Hakhnazaryan
(Armenia/Russia)
Gayane Hakhnazaryan graduated from the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory in 1974, while in 1981 she received her PG diploma at the conservatory. From 1974 to 1988, Hakhnazaryan was Concertmaster of the Strings and Vocal Department of the said conservatory. From 1982 to 2001, she taught at the Chamber Ensemble and Quartet Department. Since 2002 she has taught at the Tchaikovsky Academic Music College at the Moscow State Conservatoire.
Hakhnazaryan appears in concerts with symphony orchestras and as part of ensembles with various soloists. She also performs recitals. Hakhnazaryan has toured Germany, France, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Japan, China, South Korea, and Ukraine. In 1995 she founded the “Hakhnazaryan” piano trio, where she performs with violinist Suren Hakhnazaryan and cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan. She has been the first performer of many works by modern Armenian composers. She is a professor of Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory.
GULZHAMILA MUKHAMEJANOVA
(Kazakhstan)
Laureate of International Competitions,
Teacher of the Astana Ahmed Zhubanov Secondary Special Music School.
Nana Makharadze
(Georgia)
Honored Teacher of Georgia, Diploma Winner and Laureate of many national and international competitions, holder of the Order of Honor. Representative of the International Association "Art and Education of the 21st Century" in Georgia. After graduating from the Tbilisi State Conservatory, she began working there as a chamber musician. Currently she is a teacher of the Piano Department of the Z. Paliashvili Central Music School for Gifted Children and is a Deputy General Director of the A. D. Visaladze Gymnasium of Arts in Tbilisi. She is invited as a member of the jury of a number of international competitions in Ukraine, Finland, Italy, Lithuania, where she constantly conducts master classes and music seminars.