The Armenian Music Program Presents
Khachatur Avetisyan's 100th Anniversary and Armenian Genocide Commemoration Concert

Khachatur Avetisyan was an internationally acclaimed kanon performer, composer, professor, and People’s Artist of the Republic of Armenia. He received his early musical training at the Romanos Melikyan Music Academy in Yerevan and continued his education at the Komitas State Conservatory, where he studied composition with Edvard Mirzoyan. In 1958, he was appointed as the inaugural musical director of the Armenian State Dance Ensemble, for which, over the course of fifteen years, he composed an extensive repertoire of dance music. Between 1974 and 1978, Avetisyan held the position of musical director for the Armenian State Ensemble of Song and Dance named after Tatul Altunyan. In 1978, he founded the department of vocal and instrumental performance of Armenian folk music at the Conservatory. Over a span of thirty-five years, he served as a professor and curator of the folk instruments collection within this department, authoring numerous textbooks, leaving behind an unparalleled musical and pedagogical legacy. Khachatur Avetisyan’s works are regularly performed internationally. His two concertos for kanon and symphony orchestra, as well as his “Oratorio in memory of victims of 1915 Genocide” have garnered global recognition. His body of work includes the “Gyumri Requiem,” written in memory of the victims of the 1988 earthquake, as well as two ballets, scores for theater and film, and several orchestral suites. Numerous songs he composed are among the most popular pieces of Armenian music and are frequently performed at concerts and community gatherings alike.

Anahit Valesyan is a special guest artist of the Khachatur Avetisyan 100th Anniversary and Armenian Genocide concert on April 23, 2026.

Anahit Valesyan is an internationally recognized kanon player, composer, and professor at the Gyumri branch of the Komitas State Conservatory. She received her early music training at the Music School named after Sheram and the Music School named after Kara-Murza, becoming a national award-winning kanon player. She continued her education at the Komitas State Conservatory’s folk music department, graduating with degrees in both kanon performance and voice. As a student of Khachatur Avetisyan, she pursued her doctoral studies at the same Conservatory. For many years, Valesyan taught at the Music School named after Kara-Murza in Gyumri and worked with the Khachatur Avetisyan folk instruments orchestra as a founder and solo kanon performer. Between 2000 and 2019 she held the position of the founding solo kanon performer of the Kohar symphonic orchestra. Valesyan is a recording artist, author, and jury member of many international competitions.

Conductor

Artistic Director and Choirmaster of Haikian Chamber Choir

Solo soprano

Solo baritone

Soprano

Soprano

Soprano

Soprano

Soprano

Soprano

Soprano

Soprano

Alto

Alto

Alto

Alto

Alto

Alto

Alto

Alto

Alto

Tenor

Tenor

Tenor

Tenor

Bass

Bass

Bass

Vardan baghdasaryan is a world-renowned master kamancha musician. He is a kamancha mentor to Armenian Music Program fellows at the UCLA School of Music.

Emmanuel Hovhannisyan is an accomplished duduk musician and previous duduk mentor to Armenian Music Program fellows at the UCLA School of Music.

Albert Ordinyan graduated from the Khachatur Abovyan State Pedagogical University of the Republic of Armenia with a master’s degree in Music Education. Albert entered the Armenian music world under the mentorship of his father Araz Ordinyan, one of Armenia’s most well-respected dhol players. Albert is among the most successful dhol players in his generation and has also founded his very own dhol school in Los Angeles, the Vahagn Dhol Ensemble. He currently performs in multiple Armenian ensembles throughout Los Angeles, accompanying artists such as Haykuhi Babakhanyan and Lernazang.