The Armenian Music Program at The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music provides an in-depth exploration of Armenia’s rich musical heritage, with a focus on its classical traditions. A hallmark of the school’s innovative leadership in music and its commitment to public outreach, through dynamic performances and academic scholarship, the program has evolved into a vibrant educational platform.
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The mission of the Armenian Music Program is to preserve and celebrate Armenian music as an art form. Established in 2013, the Program has presented dozens of outreach performances as well as high-profile public concerts and recordings—including Grammy-nominated Armenian Requiem by Ian Krouse—provided over 30 student scholarships, and built a devoted community of supporters and fans. This Program engages communities of musicians, scholars, and audience members across the UCLA campus, Los Angeles, nationally, and internationally.
Meet the Director Learn More
Movses Pogossian is a celebrated prize-winning violinist who made his American debut performing the Tchaikovsky Concerto with the Boston Pops at Symphony Hall in 1990. He has since performed extensively in North America and Europe as a soloist, sought-after chamber musician, and enthusiastic advocate of new music. Movses Pogossian is the Founding Director of UCLA’s Armenian Music Program, as well as the Artistic Director of the critically acclaimed Dilijan Chamber Music Series in Los Angeles. His prolific discography includes Complete Sonatas and Partitas by J. S. Bach and solo violin CDs “Inspired by Bach”, “Blooming Sounds”, and “In Nomine”. Upcoming releases include a double album of Chamber Music of Tigran Mansurian, with Kim Kashkashian, as well as “Modulation Necklace” CD of New Armenian Music.
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Meet the Associate Director Learn More
The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr. Melissa Bilal, an internationally recognized ethnomusicologist, sociocultural anthropologist, and social historian, as the full-time Associate Director of the Armenian Music Program (AMP). Working jointly with AMP's Founding Director Movses Pogossian, Professor Bilal will take lead in scholarly programming for AMP, enhance research in ethnomusicology, and teach innovative Armenian Music Courses.
Melissa’s research and publications focus on the Armenian experience in relation to Turkey’s minority and memory politics; historical and ethnographic study of Armenian musical practices; and the gender history of the late Ottoman Armenian intellectual life. She is currently working on the book and digital humanities project Feminism in Armenian: A History in Documents (with Lerna Ekmekcioglu) and on her two monographs The Wake-up Lullaby: Gender, Music, and Memory in Armenian Awakening, 1860-1923 and Injuries of Reconciliation: Being an Armenian in Turkey.
Melissa’s research and publications focus on the Armenian experience in relation to Turkey’s minority and memory politics; historical and ethnographic study of Armenian musical practices; and the gender history of the late Ottoman Armenian intellectual life. She is currently working on the book and digital humanities project Feminism in Armenian: A History in Documents (with Lerna Ekmekcioglu) and on her two monographs The Wake-up Lullaby: Gender, Music, and Memory in Armenian Awakening, 1860-1923 and Injuries of Reconciliation: Being an Armenian in Turkey.
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VEM Ensemble Learn More
The VEM Ensemble is the Graduate Ensemble-in-Residence of the Program, dedicated to bringing forward Armenian classical and contemporary music through heartfelt, high-level performances. Vem means rock in Armenian, symbolizing the strength and lasting power of Armenian history and musical heritage.
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Recent and Upcoming Events
Naghash Ensemble Performance
Schoenberg Hall | March 2 2023 @ 8 PM
VEM Ensemble Tours USA + ARMENIA
Armenia | March 2023
East Coast | May 2023
In Remembrance: Treasures of Armenian Classical, Contemporary & Folk Music
Hammer Museum | April 19, 2023
Revisit the 2022 “In Remembrance” Concert
Revisit the 2021 “In Remembrance” Concert
Day of Armenian Music at UCLA
Schoenberg Hall and Courtyard | May 2023
Our Achievements
Explore all recordings Here
Following its lauded recent performances in Yerevan, Armenia, the UCLA VEM Ensemble is featured in the newly released CD of Armenian Music, “Modulation Necklace,” by the Naxos-distributed label, New Focus Recordings. Celebrating the aesthetic diversity of the post-Soviet era Armenian music, the CD highlights a selection of works from distinguished contemporary Armenian composers Artur Avanesov, Ashot Zohrabyan, Michel Petrossian, and Artashes and Ashot Kartalyan. Along with the VEM Ensemble, Modulation Necklace also features internationally renowned musicians Scott St. John, Antonio Lysy, Varty Manouelian, Movses Pogossian, Katisse Buckingham, Dustin Donahue, as well as UCLA alumni Charles Tyler and Niall Ferguson.
Dan Lippel, President of New Focus Recordings, praised the album. “Violinist Movses Pogossian has assembled this illuminating collection of contemporary music from Armenia…revealing a vibrant repertoire whose aesthetics are as outward-looking as they are grounded in their reverence of centuries-old culture.” Highlighting the best of contemporary Armenian Composers, “Modulation Necklace” is a true celebration of Armenian music as an art form and a testament to the rich history and heritage which it tributes. The UCLA VEM ensemble’s participation in the album is a significant achievement, which upholds the noble mission of the Armenian Music Program.
Proceeds of this CD will benefit the UCLA Armenian Music Program.
The CD is available on Amazon and Apple Music.
Critical praise of Modulation Necklace
New York Music Daily
"Violinist Movses Pogossian Pulls Together a Stunning, Uneasy Album of New Armenian Classical Music"
Capplegate Classical-Modern Music Review
“...Modulation Necklace retains relevance and interest throughout... It is a most stimulating set.”
Records International
“An attractive and fascinating recital of works by Armenian composers that showcases the wide variety of styles in what is evidently a vital and inventive contemporary music scene in Armenian culture.“
The Art Music Lounge
"Touches both the mind and the heart...This disc turns out to be full of interesting music, well written and exceptionally well-executed by all concerned. Very highly recommended!"
Newsletter: Modulation Necklace
Newsletter: Modulation Necklace Vol. 2
⬆️ UCLA Armenian Music Program Newsletter Vol. 2 ⬆️
Related Press
More News
A Day of Armenian Music
Nine years ago, the Armenian Music Program was started with a single student ensemble-in-residence. On Tuesday, May 31 at 12:00 pm, the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music will host A Day of Armenian Music – Music of Connections. The concert will feature two student ensembles, world-renowned artists, workshops and Armenian music in classical, folk and jazz
Professor Melissa Bilal Joins Armenian Music Program as Its Full-Time Associate Director
The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr.
Melissa Bilal, an internationally recognized ethnomusicologist, sociocultural anthropologist,
and social historian, as the full-time Associate Director of the Armenian Music Program.
Armenian Chamber Music album was co-conceived by School of Music Professor Movses Pogossian
A new album of contemporary chamber music might never have come into existence without SOM professor Movses Pogossian. Recorded on the UCLA campus, the album, Con Anima, is also among a select number of projects that the record label, Edition of Contemporary Music, has produced outside of Europe.
About Us
Movses Pogossian
Professor, Director of Armenian Music Program
Melissa Bilal
Associate Director of Armenian Music Program and Lecturer
Armen Adamian
Instructor of Armenian Music Ensemble
Irene Baghdasaryan
Music Outreach Coordinator
Natalie Kamajian
Instructor of Beginning Armenian Dance; Ph.D. Student in Culture and Performance
Community Outreach Partners and Learning Resources
With a mission to engage the community and expand the reach of Armenian music, this program relies on partners at UCLA and beyond. The following partners help this program reach a larger audience and provide philanthropic resources that support this program’s ongoing activities:
Support the program and keep the music playing