The Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra (ANPO) is an orchestra based in Yerevan, Armenia. It has always been considered as one of the leading orchestras of the former Soviet Union. Established 93 years ago by Arshak Adamian and Alexander Spendiaryan it is the national center of professional orchestral music in Armenia. Over the years, conductors A. Adamyan , A. Spendiaryan , S. Charekyan , G. Budaghyan , K. Saradjian , M. Maluntsyan , O. Durian, M. Terian , R. Vartanian , A. Katanyan , D . Khandjian , V. Gergiev, V. Papian, M. Avetisyan , and L. Tjeknavorian directed the orchestra. In October 2000 Eduard Topchjan was appointed the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the ANPO.

The State Youth Orchestra of Armenia was founded in 2005 by conductor Sergey Smbatyan, who is also its Artistic Director and Principal Conductor. Young and talented musicians’ maturity to follow the right path of life, diligence and devotion to the art have smoothed their way for great stages and rapidly increased the amount of their international awards. In 2008 on the special decision of the Government of the Republic of Armenia the Orchestra was granted the title of “State Orchestra” for their high professionalism and expansion of contemporary music.

The first director of the Orchestra and an Honoured Art Worker, Zareh Sahakiants played an inestimable part in foundation, establishment and fleet advancement of the Orchestra. His character and name are inseparably linked to the formation of the distinctive and exquisite artistic style of the orchestra, definite repertoire stance, enthusiastic welcome of the audience in Armenia and likewise in other USSR republics and in foreign concert halls. The established traditions were further developed and enriched by the subsequent directors or the orchestra - Kostandin Baghdasaryan (since 1975), Ruben Aharonyan (since 1982) and Aram Gharabekian (since 1997). The unique character of the orchestra has been greatly featured by the dedication of these brilliant figures of acute artistic temper.

Armenian conductor Sergey Smbatyan is the founder, artistic director and principal conductor of the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia. For his achievements in culture the conductor was awarded with the Title “Honored Artist of the Republic of Armenia” by the RA President Serzh Sargsyan in 2016.

The outstanding Armenian conductor Eduard Topchjan studied violin at the Yerevan Conservatory and went on to study conducting with a prominent Armenian conductor Ohan Durian, followed by valuable consultations from Sir George Solti, Claudio Abbado and Nello Santi. In 1991 he created the Serenade Chamber Orchestra, which appeared with more than 700 concerts in Europe. Eduard Topchjan made his debut with the ANPO in 2000. The same year he was appointed Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the ANPO and starts successful appearances with the ANPO in Yerevan and abroad, earning much praise for his interpretations of the main symphonic repertoire as well as new compositions. Already in 2001 he appeared with the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra at the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, and in 2003 at the “Bolshoi Theater”. This was followed by the ANPO tours in the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, and France with remarkable concerts in Nuremberg, Prague, Brno, Bratislava, Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Nice and many other cities. In 2008 the ANPO led by Eduard Topchjan made a very successful tour over Japan with 15 concerts. Topchjan is especially known for introducing music both to orchestral and operatic repertoire. He has performed the operas “Aida”, “The Barber of Seville”, “Madame Butterfly”, “Turandot”, “Simone Boccanegra”, “Otello”, “Rigoletto”, “I Pagliacci”, “Eugene Onegin”, “Tosca”, “La Boheme”, “Cavalleria Rusticana” and others.

Gevorg Muradyan was born in 1947 in Yerevan. In 1973 he graduated from Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory, department of opera and symphony conducting with honor. From 1974-1990 he was the conductor of Armenia TV and Radio Company’s Symphonic Orchestra. He is the winner of the 5th All –Union Competition of Conductors, which took place in Moscow in 1983. From 1986-1987 he improved his skills while obtaining his PHD degree at Vienna Musical Academy. In 1991 he was appointed conductor of the Yerevan Symphony Orchestra, in 1995 Artistic Director and Conductor of the Philharmonic Choir. As a conductor he conducted spiritual music concerts of the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra.

Universally hailed as one of the world’s finest musicians, and often referred to as the greatest living string player in the world today, Grammy award winner Maxim Vengerov also enjoys international acclaim as a conductor and is one of the most in-demand soloists in all of classical music. Born in 1974, he began his career as a solo violinist at the age of 5, won the Wieniawski and Carl Flesch international competitions at ages 10 and 15 respectively, studied with Galina Tourchaninova and Zakhar Bron, made his first recording at the age of 10, and went on to record extensively for high-profile labels including Melodia, Teldec and EMI, earning among others, Grammy and Gramophone artist of the year awards. Tireless in his search for new means of creative expression, Maxim Vengerov has let himself be inspired by many different styles of music, including baroque, jazz and rock and in 2007 followed in the footsteps of his mentors, the late Mstislav Rostropovich and Daniel Barenboim and turned his attention to conducting. Mr Vengerov has since conducted major orchestras around the world including the Montreal and Toronto Symphony Orchestras, and in 2010 was appointed the first chief conductor of the Gstaad Festival Orchestra. He went on to further his studies with Yuri Simonov, an exponent of the Russian-German conducting school, and graduated as a conductor with a diploma of excellence from the Moscow Institute of Ippolitov-Ivanov in June 2014. He has since enrolled in a further 2-year program of opera conducting – scheduled to conduct his first performance of Eugene Onegin in Brisbane in November and Moscow in December 2017.

Roman Kim began violin lessons at the age of five. From the age of 7 he studied at the Moscow Central Music School with Galina Turchaninova, took master classes with Midori Goto, Maxim Vengerov and Gidon Kremer among others, and was supported by the Rostropovich Foundation. At the age of 16 he began studies at the Cologne Musikhochschule with Viktor Tretyakov before winning first prize in the 2012 International Competition "Valsesia Musica".

Born into a family of musicians, the Armenian cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan introduced himself to an international audience when he won the First Prize and a Gold Medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Since then, he has been recognized as one of the finest cellists of his generation, convincing with marvellous musicality and flawless technique. Hakhnazaryan’s early studies were at the Sayat-Nova School of Music in Yerevan with Zareh Sarkisyan and at the Moscow Conservatory with Alexey Seleznyov. He was also mentored by Rostropovich.

As a First Prize winner of the most important international violin competitions, the French-Russian violinist Fedor Rudin, born in Moscow in 1992, is on his way of being recognized as one of the most exciting and gifted young concert soloists of today's generation. Rudin has already played at prestigious concert halls like Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium in New York, Cadogan Hall in London, Philharmonie in Paris, Mozarteum Grosser Saal at the famous Salzburg Festival, House of Music in Moscow, Tonhalle Zurich or Hamburg Laeiszhalle, with many world-renowned orchestras. He is a founding member of Fratres Trio, hailed as “a new generation of classical music” by the press for their unusual combination of violin, saxophone and piano.

Founded in 1999 under the name “Arsika”, the Khachaturian trio is praised by the critique for its virtuosity, sense of style, quality of sound and musicality. It has toured throughout the USA, South America, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, China, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Australia, Moldova, Georgia, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia and Armenia and played in prestigious halls like the Musikverein (Vienna), the Laiezhalle (Hamburg) the Gewandhaus (Leipzig), the Gasteig-Philharmonie (Munich) and the Purcell Room (London). The Trio also participated in a number of important festivals in South America and Europe. Five CDs recorded by the trio focus on Armenian and Russian music. Members of the Trio are involved in pedagogic activities, giving master classes in music schools of various regions of Armenia.

Highly acclaimed for her “Elegance, humour, fiery imagination “, “unique sensual narrative tone”, “precise stylistic approach”, “dazzling technique”, “charismatic stage presence”, and described as a “major, major, major talent…potential superstar” by Musical America Magazine, sensational pianist Nareh Arghamanyan, who is still in her twenties, has shaken the music world and has been praised worldwide by various critics, concert presenters, conductors, and audiences alike.

From the very beginning of its formation it is of high importance for the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia (SYOA) to support the activity of its ensembles and to foster the establishment of new ones. In April of 2015 the joint efforts of SYOA musicians and its artistic director and principal conductor Sergey Smbatyan resulted in creation of the unique ensemble - the Abgar Muradyan Duo (clarinet and piano).

Born in Yerevan, Armenia in 1985, Lilit Grigoryan started to play piano at the age of seven at the Al. Spendiaryan Music School with Prof. Arkuhi Harutyunyan. She was a student at the Komitas Yerevan State Conservatory with Prof. Sergey Sarajyan, before she entered the Hochschule für Musik und Theater Rostock in the class of Prof. Matthias Kirschnereit in April 2014. She graduated in Rostock with the highest distinction.

The Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra (ANPO) is an orchestra based in Yerevan, Armenia. It has always been considered as one of the leading orchestras of the former Soviet Union. Established 93 years ago by Arshak Adamian and Alexander Spendiaryan it is the national center of professional orchestral music in Armenia. Over the years, conductors A. Adamyan , A. Spendiaryan , S. Charekyan , G. Budaghyan , K. Saradjian , M. Maluntsyan , O. Durian, M. Terian , R. Vartanian , A. Katanyan , D . Khandjian , V. Gergiev, V. Papian, M. Avetisyan , and L. Tjeknavorian directed the orchestra. In October 2000 Eduard Topchjan was appointed the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the ANPO.

The State Youth Orchestra of Armenia was founded in 2005 by conductor Sergey Smbatyan, who is also its Artistic Director and Principal Conductor. Young and talented musicians’ maturity to follow the right path of life, diligence and devotion to the art have smoothed their way for great stages and rapidly increased the amount of their international awards. In 2008 on the special decision of the Government of the Republic of Armenia the Orchestra was granted the title of “State Orchestra” for their high professionalism and expansion of contemporary music.

The first director of the Orchestra and an Honoured Art Worker, Zareh Sahakiants played an inestimable part in foundation, establishment and fleet advancement of the Orchestra. His character and name are inseparably linked to the formation of the distinctive and exquisite artistic style of the orchestra, definite repertoire stance, enthusiastic welcome of the audience in Armenia and likewise in other USSR republics and in foreign concert halls. The established traditions were further developed and enriched by the subsequent directors or the orchestra - Kostandin Baghdasaryan (since 1975), Ruben Aharonyan (since 1982) and Aram Gharabekian (since 1997). The unique character of the orchestra has been greatly featured by the dedication of these brilliant figures of acute artistic temper.

Armenian conductor Sergey Smbatyan is the founder, artistic director and principal conductor of the State Youth Orchestra of Armenia. For his achievements in culture the conductor was awarded with the Title “Honored Artist of the Republic of Armenia” by the RA President Serzh Sargsyan in 2016.

The outstanding Armenian conductor Eduard Topchjan studied violin at the Yerevan Conservatory and went on to study conducting with a prominent Armenian conductor Ohan Durian, followed by valuable consultations from Sir George Solti, Claudio Abbado and Nello Santi. In 1991 he created the Serenade Chamber Orchestra, which appeared with more than 700 concerts in Europe. Eduard Topchjan made his debut with the ANPO in 2000. The same year he was appointed Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the ANPO and starts successful appearances with the ANPO in Yerevan and abroad, earning much praise for his interpretations of the main symphonic repertoire as well as new compositions. Already in 2001 he appeared with the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra at the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, and in 2003 at the “Bolshoi Theater”. This was followed by the ANPO tours in the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, and France with remarkable concerts in Nuremberg, Prague, Brno, Bratislava, Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Nice and many other cities. In 2008 the ANPO led by Eduard Topchjan made a very successful tour over Japan with 15 concerts. Topchjan is especially known for introducing music both to orchestral and operatic repertoire. He has performed the operas “Aida”, “The Barber of Seville”, “Madame Butterfly”, “Turandot”, “Simone Boccanegra”, “Otello”, “Rigoletto”, “I Pagliacci”, “Eugene Onegin”, “Tosca”, “La Boheme”, “Cavalleria Rusticana” and others.

Gevorg Muradyan was born in 1947 in Yerevan. In 1973 he graduated from Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory, department of opera and symphony conducting with honor. From 1974-1990 he was the conductor of Armenia TV and Radio Company’s Symphonic Orchestra. He is the winner of the 5th All –Union Competition of Conductors, which took place in Moscow in 1983. From 1986-1987 he improved his skills while obtaining his PHD degree at Vienna Musical Academy. In 1991 he was appointed conductor of the Yerevan Symphony Orchestra, in 1995 Artistic Director and Conductor of the Philharmonic Choir. As a conductor he conducted spiritual music concerts of the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra.

Universally hailed as one of the world’s finest musicians, and often referred to as the greatest living string player in the world today, Grammy award winner Maxim Vengerov also enjoys international acclaim as a conductor and is one of the most in-demand soloists in all of classical music. Born in 1974, he began his career as a solo violinist at the age of 5, won the Wieniawski and Carl Flesch international competitions at ages 10 and 15 respectively, studied with Galina Tourchaninova and Zakhar Bron, made his first recording at the age of 10, and went on to record extensively for high-profile labels including Melodia, Teldec and EMI, earning among others, Grammy and Gramophone artist of the year awards. Tireless in his search for new means of creative expression, Maxim Vengerov has let himself be inspired by many different styles of music, including baroque, jazz and rock and in 2007 followed in the footsteps of his mentors, the late Mstislav Rostropovich and Daniel Barenboim and turned his attention to conducting. Mr Vengerov has since conducted major orchestras around the world including the Montreal and Toronto Symphony Orchestras, and in 2010 was appointed the first chief conductor of the Gstaad Festival Orchestra. He went on to further his studies with Yuri Simonov, an exponent of the Russian-German conducting school, and graduated as a conductor with a diploma of excellence from the Moscow Institute of Ippolitov-Ivanov in June 2014. He has since enrolled in a further 2-year program of opera conducting – scheduled to conduct his first performance of Eugene Onegin in Brisbane in November and Moscow in December 2017.

Roman Kim began violin lessons at the age of five. From the age of 7 he studied at the Moscow Central Music School with Galina Turchaninova, took master classes with Midori Goto, Maxim Vengerov and Gidon Kremer among others, and was supported by the Rostropovich Foundation. At the age of 16 he began studies at the Cologne Musikhochschule with Viktor Tretyakov before winning first prize in the 2012 International Competition "Valsesia Musica".

Born into a family of musicians, the Armenian cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan introduced himself to an international audience when he won the First Prize and a Gold Medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Since then, he has been recognized as one of the finest cellists of his generation, convincing with marvellous musicality and flawless technique. Hakhnazaryan’s early studies were at the Sayat-Nova School of Music in Yerevan with Zareh Sarkisyan and at the Moscow Conservatory with Alexey Seleznyov. He was also mentored by Rostropovich.

As a First Prize winner of the most important international violin competitions, the French-Russian violinist Fedor Rudin, born in Moscow in 1992, is on his way of being recognized as one of the most exciting and gifted young concert soloists of today's generation. Rudin has already played at prestigious concert halls like Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium in New York, Cadogan Hall in London, Philharmonie in Paris, Mozarteum Grosser Saal at the famous Salzburg Festival, House of Music in Moscow, Tonhalle Zurich or Hamburg Laeiszhalle, with many world-renowned orchestras. He is a founding member of Fratres Trio, hailed as “a new generation of classical music” by the press for their unusual combination of violin, saxophone and piano.