Violinist Strives To Bring Armenian Music To Mainstream

By Suzy Cazandjian

"The Armenian Weekly", Volume 72, No. 17, April 29, 2006

When violinist Movses Pogossian was appointed artistic director of the newly formed Los Angeles-based Dilijan Chamber Music Series in 2005, he faced a formidable challenge: bringing Armenian music performed by high caliber musicians to the mainstream. Pogossian has successfully embarked on this path with the recent completion of Dilijan’s six-concert inaugural season. By presenting Armenian works side-by-side with Western repertoire performed by acclaimed musicians at Zipper Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the series has attracted an Armenian as well as non-Armenian audience.

“I just love directing this series; it is a wonderful thing for Armenian music,” said Pogossian who was recently in Detroit to be a guest on the Heritage of Armenian Culture Radio. The feature on Pogossian will air on Sunday, May 21 at 9 p.m. Eastern Standard Time at www.wnzk.com (to access click on the link “Listen to WNZK” on the left-hand side of the Web page) and on WNZK 680 AM in Detroit. The Dilijan Chamber Music Series was founded by Lark Music Society members under the leadership of conductor Vatsche Barsoumian. Besides showcasing traditional pieces of Western classical chamber music and Armenian chamber works performed by acclaimed musicians, Dilijan also presents world premieres of chamber music by contemporary Armenian composers. Works by Edward Mirzoyan, Aram Khachaturian, Alan Hovhaness, Arno Babajanian and Gomidas were presented this past season as well as world premieres by Tigran Mansurian and Vache Sharafyan.

Sharafyan received critical acclaim as a composer for Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble. “We had so many positive comments from our audience members about Sharafyan’s compositions; they were moved by the emotional message of his music,” said Pogossian.

Slated for next season are world premieres of newly commissioned works by David Haladjian, Artur Avanesov and Paolo Cavallone. Guest artists will include violist Kim Kashkashian, violinists Ani Kavafian and Ida Levin, and pianists Sarkis Baltaian and Norman Krieger.

Pogossian possesses an impressive array of accomplishments. Since making his critically acclaimed American debut with the Boston Pops performing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in 1990, Pogossian has embarked on a multi-dimensional career. A native of Armenia, he studied at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory where he completed his doctorate. At the age of 19, Pogossian became the youngest ever first prize winner of the Seventh All-USSR National Violin Competition in 1985. He later went on to win prizes in the 1986 Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow and the 1991 Rodolfo Lipizer International Violin Competition in Italy. He has performed with major orchestras around the world including the Moscow Philharmonic, the Moscow Chamber Orchestra and the State Philharmonic Orchestras of Estonia, Georgia and Armenia.

In 1989, Pogossian received a fellowship at the Tanglewood Music Festival in Massachusetts. He has performed chamber music with members of the Tokyo, Kronos and Brentano String Quartets. Additionally, he frequently collaborates with the New Hampshire-based Apple Hill Chamber Players, participating in Apple Hill’s “Playing for Peace” tours and since 1992 returning annually to Apple Hill’s Summer Chamber Music Festival and School where he is a faculty member. Pogossian is currently visiting artist teacher at the State University of New York-Buffalo and a member of the Baird Piano Trio. He has previously served on the faculties of Duquesne, Bowling Green and Wayne State Universities.

“I am very encouraged by our first season and by world-famous musicians performing Armenian pieces and telling me that this is great music. I want to spread our music, not only to audiences, but to performers as well. This will be the most effective way for us to broaden the recognition of Armenian music,” said Pogossian.

The Dilijan Chamber Music Series is financed largely through contributions.

For more information visit http://dilijan.larkmusicalsociety.com.