Tigran Vardanyan
Instrument: Violin
With the RPO since: 1998
Hometown: Yerevan, Armenia
Non-RPO activities and hobbies: Crossfit (form of exercise), chess, studying languages, grilling steaks (even in the snow!), spending time with friends.
What music school did you attend, and who were your most inspirational teachers? Eastman School of Music, studying with Zvi Zeitlin, and later Oleh Krysa. But I must include my great teachers back at home in Armenia, Levon Zorian and Villy Mokazian, and my first teacher in the states, Abram Shtern.
Favorite books/movies: I like a wide variety ... as long as they keep me interested.
What kinds of music do you enjoy listening to? Folk music from different parts of the world, music from my home country, tango, flamenco, classical of course, jazz ... anything good actually.
And if you had to pick just one, what’s your favorite piece? Impossible :)
People would be surprised to know … Perhaps that I have lived through an earthquake, the collapse of Soviet Union, witnessed my country fall apart completely but also get its independence, and that if I didn't come to study in the states I would have been given a machine gun and sent to war. Getting a chance to come to the states was like winning the lottery!
What do you most enjoy about living in the Rochester area? There is so much art in this city!
What are your favorite restaurants in Rochester, and why? Golden Port because it's close to Eastman. But I'll take a good homemade meal any day over restaurants!
The RPO is essential to the Rochester community because … It is the artistic tradition of this town! I'm also proud that we reach out to thousands of kids every year!
What sports team(s) do you root for? I only get cable once every four years to watch the World Cup...does this show how much sports I watch? :)
Favorite late-night snack: If it's a late-night snack it's already my favorite.
What is your favorite way to spend your day off? I'd like to slow life down a bit, sit down with a glass of wine ... but I usually end up catching up with things on my to-do list. I guess I need more days off!
What is your most memorable musical experience? I remember and love it all, and am happy that music is a continuous memorable experience!
Biography
Tigran Vardanyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia. He began his violin studies with his father at the age of six. While still very young, Tigran was given opportunities to perform as a soloist with the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, the Armenian Chamber Orchestra, and the Armenian TV and Radio Orchestra.
In 1994, Tigran immigrated to Los Angeles, Cal. to study with the renowned Ukrainian violinist, Abram Shtern. In 1996, he moved to Rochester, N.Y. to study at the Eastman School of Music with Professor Zvi Zeitlin and in 1999 also joined Professor Oleh Krysa’s Studio.
Since 1998, Tigran has been a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and in 2000 was featured as a soloist with the Philharmonic playing the Sibelius Violin Concerto under the direction of Christopher Seaman. Tigran continues to perform as a soloist and chamber musician at various music festivals and concert venues in the Middle East, Europe, Central America, and North America. His repertoire includes concertos and showpieces by Bach, Brahms, Bruch, Chausson, Glazunov, Khachaturian, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Paganini, Prokofiev, Saint-Saens, Sarasate, Shostakovich, Sibelius, Szymanowski, Vieuxtemps, Vivaldi, Wieniawski, along with various recital programs. Tigran became a U.S. Citizen in 2009.
