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Seattle Weekly described his interpretation of Beethoven's Symphony Nr. 1 as "confident, convincing, lyrically phrased, excellent tempo and well-rehearsed". "Rising Star" - The Armenian Mirror Spectator "...under Arakelyan's baton flawlessly performs pieces by Brahms, del Borgo and Corelli. The Senior Orchestra nails a complex program that includes works by Rossini and Mussorgsky." - Bainbridge Magazine |
"Maestro Arakelyan is following his rousing audition concert last April with a concert entitled A Night at the Ballet, Opera and Symphony."
- Port Ludlow Voice "Arakelyan started conducting at the age of 22, and has worked with young musicians for his entire career. He has clearly found his calling." - Bainbridge Magazine "Arakelyan is beginning his third season with the orchestra, which has grown significantly during the past few years" - Peninsula Daily News |
Tigran Arakelyan is an Armenian-American conductor, podcaster and radio host. He is the Music Director of Northwest Mahler Festival and Artistic Director of Port Townsend Symphony. Passionate about working with young musicians, he is the Music Director of Federal Way Youth Symphony and the Bainbridge Island Youth Orchestras. Tigran is the newly appointed Music Director of ORS of Tacoma, the organization provides music students of all levels and ages the opportunity to perform as a soloist with a professional orchestra or a chamber ensemble. Previously, he was the assistant conductor of California Philharmonic and made his Walt Disney Concert Hall conducting debut in 2019. Tigran played alongside Sir James Galway during his induction into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. He received awards from The American Prize in Programming and the Global Music Awards.
He has programmed diverse concerts with works by William Grant Still, Amy Beach, Alma Mahler, Fanny Mendelssohn, Vasily Kalinnikov and conducted regional premieres by renowned composers Paul Hindemith, Keith Jarrett and James Cohn. Since 2009, Tigran has taken orchestras to unconventional venues, from bars and cideries to cafes and homeless shelters. During his tenure, both youth organizations grew to their highest enrollment and added multiple orchestras and ensembles. Bainbridge Island Youth Orchestra is one of the few youth orchestras in the US to continue in-person rehearsals (outdoor) and present virtual concerts. Federal Way Youth Symphony performed a concert which was rehearsed and recorded in-person and presented virtually. Since March 2019, Tigran presented numerous virtual educational seminars and rehearsals with youth orchestras.
Previously, he held assistant/associate conductor positions with the California Philharmonic, Los Angeles Youth Orchestra, Bellingham Symphony, CSU Northridge Youth Philharmonic and the Rainier Symphony. He has initiated and is a founder of the Port Townsend Chamber Orchestra, Bainbridge Island String Orchestra Festival, PTSO Young Artist Competition, Whidbey Competition for Young Composers and numerous scholarship/grant and funding initiatives. He was the founder and Music Director of the Cadence Chamber Orchestra (WA) and the Youth Orchestra at Lark Musical Society (CA). During his tenure, the Port Townsend Symphony saw unprecedented financial and audience growth.
Tigran led the Federal Way Youth Symphony on three tours to South Korea (2014, 2017, 2019), conducting in Seoul, Busan, Jeju, Daejeon, Gwangju, among other cities. During his time at the University of Washington, he was the conductor of the Campus Philharmonia and the Summer Orchestra. He held Music Director positions with the Whidbey Island Orchestra and the Bremerton Youth Symphony. Tigran has conducted the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Olympia Chamber Orchestra, numerous youth orchestras in South Korea, Armenian Pops Orchestra, Juneau Symphony, Ballard Civic Orchestra, Bainbridge Symphony, Inverted Space Ensemble, Lark Orchestra (CA), Yakima Symphony Chamber Orchestra and innovative collaborations with the Olympic Performance Group and Olympic Youth Choir.
Tigran received the Ludovic Morlot Fellowship at the Pierre Monteux Festival, is a three time awardee of the Armenian General Benevolent Union Performing Arts Fellowship and is the 1st prize winner at the Armenian Allied Arts Competition. He participated in the Conductors Guild Workshop, Idyllwild Music Festival and Dilijan Chamber Music Series, among others. Tigran conducted in masterclasses with notable conductors David Loebel, Frank Battisti, Donald Thulean, Michael Jinbo and David Effron. He has worked with numerous composers and has premiered works by Iosif Andriasov, Eleanor Aversa, Michael Austin Miller, Yiğit Kolat and many others.
Invited by Maestro Ludovic Morlot, Tigran earned the Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting from the University of Washington where he was the first student in the inaugural class of Rahbee and Morlot. His mentors are Victor Vener, John Barcellona, Paul Taub, and Laura Osborn. In his youth he played in the Los Angeles Junior Philharmonic Orchestra and attended Lark Musical Society.
Podcast | Radio | Administrative work
Tigran is the host and producer of a radio show on KPTZ (91.9FM) called Exploring Music, he shares an eclectic mix of music and interviews. An active podcaster since 2012, he most recently hosted and produced Let’s Talk Off The Podium (140+ episodes). Tigran interviewed winners of Grammy Awards, the Pulitzer Prize, MacArthur Fellow, Rome Prize & the Polar Music Prize. Past guests include: Evelyn Glennie, George Walker, Mark O'Connor, Christian McBride, David Harrington (Kronos Quartet), JoAnn Falletta, Richard Stoltzman, Sharon Isbin, Vijay Iyer, Christopher Theofanidis, Yolanda Kondonassis, Roger Bobo, Diane Schuur, Øystein Baadsvik, Robert Aldridge and a long list of others. For five years, Tigran was the classical program coordinator at Music Works Northwest in Bellevue, WA.
Short Bio (337 words)
He has programmed diverse concerts with works by William Grant Still, Amy Beach, Alma Mahler, Fanny Mendelssohn, Vasily Kalinnikov and conducted regional premieres by renowned composers Paul Hindemith, Keith Jarrett and James Cohn. Since 2009, Tigran has taken orchestras to unconventional venues, from bars and cideries to cafes and homeless shelters. During his tenure, both youth organizations grew to their highest enrollment and added multiple orchestras and ensembles. Bainbridge Island Youth Orchestra is one of the few youth orchestras in the US to continue in-person rehearsals (outdoor) and present virtual concerts. Federal Way Youth Symphony performed a concert which was rehearsed and recorded in-person and presented virtually. Since March 2019, Tigran presented numerous virtual educational seminars and rehearsals with youth orchestras.
Previously, he held assistant/associate conductor positions with the California Philharmonic, Los Angeles Youth Orchestra, Bellingham Symphony, CSU Northridge Youth Philharmonic and the Rainier Symphony. He has initiated and is a founder of the Port Townsend Chamber Orchestra, Bainbridge Island String Orchestra Festival, PTSO Young Artist Competition, Whidbey Competition for Young Composers and numerous scholarship/grant and funding initiatives. He was the founder and Music Director of the Cadence Chamber Orchestra (WA) and the Youth Orchestra at Lark Musical Society (CA). During his tenure, the Port Townsend Symphony saw unprecedented financial and audience growth.
Tigran led the Federal Way Youth Symphony on three tours to South Korea (2014, 2017, 2019), conducting in Seoul, Busan, Jeju, Daejeon, Gwangju, among other cities. During his time at the University of Washington, he was the conductor of the Campus Philharmonia and the Summer Orchestra. He held Music Director positions with the Whidbey Island Orchestra and the Bremerton Youth Symphony. Tigran has conducted the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Olympia Chamber Orchestra, numerous youth orchestras in South Korea, Armenian Pops Orchestra, Juneau Symphony, Ballard Civic Orchestra, Bainbridge Symphony, Inverted Space Ensemble, Lark Orchestra (CA), Yakima Symphony Chamber Orchestra and innovative collaborations with the Olympic Performance Group and Olympic Youth Choir.
Tigran received the Ludovic Morlot Fellowship at the Pierre Monteux Festival, is a three time awardee of the Armenian General Benevolent Union Performing Arts Fellowship and is the 1st prize winner at the Armenian Allied Arts Competition. He participated in the Conductors Guild Workshop, Idyllwild Music Festival and Dilijan Chamber Music Series, among others. Tigran conducted in masterclasses with notable conductors David Loebel, Frank Battisti, Donald Thulean, Michael Jinbo and David Effron. He has worked with numerous composers and has premiered works by Iosif Andriasov, Eleanor Aversa, Michael Austin Miller, Yiğit Kolat and many others.
Invited by Maestro Ludovic Morlot, Tigran earned the Doctor of Musical Arts in conducting from the University of Washington where he was the first student in the inaugural class of Rahbee and Morlot. His mentors are Victor Vener, John Barcellona, Paul Taub, and Laura Osborn. In his youth he played in the Los Angeles Junior Philharmonic Orchestra and attended Lark Musical Society.
Podcast | Radio | Administrative work
Tigran is the host and producer of a radio show on KPTZ (91.9FM) called Exploring Music, he shares an eclectic mix of music and interviews. An active podcaster since 2012, he most recently hosted and produced Let’s Talk Off The Podium (140+ episodes). Tigran interviewed winners of Grammy Awards, the Pulitzer Prize, MacArthur Fellow, Rome Prize & the Polar Music Prize. Past guests include: Evelyn Glennie, George Walker, Mark O'Connor, Christian McBride, David Harrington (Kronos Quartet), JoAnn Falletta, Richard Stoltzman, Sharon Isbin, Vijay Iyer, Christopher Theofanidis, Yolanda Kondonassis, Roger Bobo, Diane Schuur, Øystein Baadsvik, Robert Aldridge and a long list of others. For five years, Tigran was the classical program coordinator at Music Works Northwest in Bellevue, WA.
Short Bio (337 words)
recommendations below
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I have always found Tigran to be that rare individual, possessing both the passion and work ethic required to achieve goals that others might shy away from. What’s more, Tigran is a responsible and genial individual, a person who contributes openly, free of any agenda, in discussions with his colleagues. I am confident that his unmatched passion and enthusiasm will translate very successfully into any position that he feels qualified to pursue. In summary, I recommend Tigran without reservation.
- Kent Devereaux | President, Goucher College
Knowing Tigran from my work with him in the Rainier Symphony, I sought him out to lead the Mahler Festival. We needed a leader who could understand the long term and short term needs of the program we are building and could command the respect of the highly skilled musicians who play with us every year.
Tigran’s musicianship and ability to command the respect of the orchestra has been all I expected of him. He has an uncanny ability to see what is needed from those around him in a way that was lacking in many conductors we have had in the past. Last summer we performed Mahler’s demanding Symphony #5 with universally positive feedback from both the orchestra and the audience. His reputation in the Northwest has, in a very short time, put him at the helm of both adult and youth programs that have flourished under his leadership.
- Mark Lloyd | Board President, Northwest Mahler Festival
"I am very happy to see a serious, motivated, talented musician who has a goal and is pursuing it."
- Bern Herbolsheimer | composer
"I recently had the pleasure of performing with Tigran and the Bainbridge Island Youth Orchestra and was impressed by his ability to continually elicit the best from the symphony’s young musicians."
- Michael Nicolella | guitarist and composer
Walt Disney Concert Hall debut.
"His crisp and concise conducting style engaged the musicians, evoking all the colors and subtleties necessary for a proper Mozart interpretation."
- Christina Linhardt
Indeed, Tigran is an extraordinarily multi-talented young musician, fluent in and passionate about modern music and ensemble work. He is kind, courteous, and sensitive to the needs of his students and associates, with whom he seeks to share his technical and theoretical knowledge, expertise, and experience.
- Vatsche Barsoumian | Director, Lark Musical Society
Tigran worked with us for 3 summers, excelling at every component of the program. He has an uncanny ability to grasp complex ideas and develop creative solutions for difficult problems. He charts his own course in his endeavors, which allows him to not only prove his talent and ability, but to stand out from the crowd. As you are aware, in the competitive nature of the arts, this unique gift of his is something to be both treasured and nurtured. He was able to expertly prepare himself for the job, and was able to coach the orchestra like a
seasoned professional.
- Victor Vener | Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, California Philharmonic
He came to every rehearsal prepared, enthusiastic, and with a professional attitude. I found Tigran easy to work with and open to all my musical and technical suggestions.
- Russell Steinberg Ph.D | Artistic Director, Los Angeles Youth Orchestra
I have had the opportunity to see and hear Tigran's rehearsing and leading an orchestra in performance of Ludwig van Beethoven's 1st Symphony, as well as in premiere of "Torch #1" by young contemporary composer Arshak Andriasov. In both works Mr. Arakelyan demonstrated confidence, ability to easily communicate with orchestra both verbally and with baton, and instrumental knowledge. It is also quite a joy to hear Tigran Arakelyan play flute - he is an accomplished and imaginative instrumentalist
- Victor Romasevich | 1st violinist, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
The artistic knowledge of the orchestra’s new director, Tigran Arakelyan, is taking the group to new levels. He's a real force of nature.
- Matthew Daline | Viola Professor and Coordinator of String Area at Bowling Green State University
Tigran’s knowledge of music and good technique were matched by his organizational skills, charismatic manner on the podium and clear passion for the music. His combination of talent, skills and interests has made him into a musician with curiosity, responsibility and a growing artistry.
- Paul Taub | Executive Director, Seattle Chamber Players & Professor of Music, Cornish College of the Arts
Mr. Arakelyan has upheld the promise he demonstrated during the audition. He is very efficient in use of the orchestra’s time. He has clear ideas of what he wants to accomplish musically, has advanced the level of musical interpretation by greater development of nuance in tempo and dynamic variation from those of previous conductors, and has demonstrated the ability to inventively work through musical difficulties. Musical ability is only one important factor in overall conductor abilities. Tigran has demonstrated a willingness and effort to participate in planning and social meetings, and has worked to gain an understanding of the orchestra as a group of people. He has also, very importantly, demonstrated an ability to deal with the sometimes delicate personal relationships that are critical to genial and productive group cooperation.
James Lux | Board President, Whidbey Island Orchestra
- Kent Devereaux | President, Goucher College
Knowing Tigran from my work with him in the Rainier Symphony, I sought him out to lead the Mahler Festival. We needed a leader who could understand the long term and short term needs of the program we are building and could command the respect of the highly skilled musicians who play with us every year.
Tigran’s musicianship and ability to command the respect of the orchestra has been all I expected of him. He has an uncanny ability to see what is needed from those around him in a way that was lacking in many conductors we have had in the past. Last summer we performed Mahler’s demanding Symphony #5 with universally positive feedback from both the orchestra and the audience. His reputation in the Northwest has, in a very short time, put him at the helm of both adult and youth programs that have flourished under his leadership.
- Mark Lloyd | Board President, Northwest Mahler Festival
"I am very happy to see a serious, motivated, talented musician who has a goal and is pursuing it."
- Bern Herbolsheimer | composer
"I recently had the pleasure of performing with Tigran and the Bainbridge Island Youth Orchestra and was impressed by his ability to continually elicit the best from the symphony’s young musicians."
- Michael Nicolella | guitarist and composer
Walt Disney Concert Hall debut.
"His crisp and concise conducting style engaged the musicians, evoking all the colors and subtleties necessary for a proper Mozart interpretation."
- Christina Linhardt
Indeed, Tigran is an extraordinarily multi-talented young musician, fluent in and passionate about modern music and ensemble work. He is kind, courteous, and sensitive to the needs of his students and associates, with whom he seeks to share his technical and theoretical knowledge, expertise, and experience.
- Vatsche Barsoumian | Director, Lark Musical Society
Tigran worked with us for 3 summers, excelling at every component of the program. He has an uncanny ability to grasp complex ideas and develop creative solutions for difficult problems. He charts his own course in his endeavors, which allows him to not only prove his talent and ability, but to stand out from the crowd. As you are aware, in the competitive nature of the arts, this unique gift of his is something to be both treasured and nurtured. He was able to expertly prepare himself for the job, and was able to coach the orchestra like a
seasoned professional.
- Victor Vener | Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, California Philharmonic
He came to every rehearsal prepared, enthusiastic, and with a professional attitude. I found Tigran easy to work with and open to all my musical and technical suggestions.
- Russell Steinberg Ph.D | Artistic Director, Los Angeles Youth Orchestra
I have had the opportunity to see and hear Tigran's rehearsing and leading an orchestra in performance of Ludwig van Beethoven's 1st Symphony, as well as in premiere of "Torch #1" by young contemporary composer Arshak Andriasov. In both works Mr. Arakelyan demonstrated confidence, ability to easily communicate with orchestra both verbally and with baton, and instrumental knowledge. It is also quite a joy to hear Tigran Arakelyan play flute - he is an accomplished and imaginative instrumentalist
- Victor Romasevich | 1st violinist, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
The artistic knowledge of the orchestra’s new director, Tigran Arakelyan, is taking the group to new levels. He's a real force of nature.
- Matthew Daline | Viola Professor and Coordinator of String Area at Bowling Green State University
Tigran’s knowledge of music and good technique were matched by his organizational skills, charismatic manner on the podium and clear passion for the music. His combination of talent, skills and interests has made him into a musician with curiosity, responsibility and a growing artistry.
- Paul Taub | Executive Director, Seattle Chamber Players & Professor of Music, Cornish College of the Arts
Mr. Arakelyan has upheld the promise he demonstrated during the audition. He is very efficient in use of the orchestra’s time. He has clear ideas of what he wants to accomplish musically, has advanced the level of musical interpretation by greater development of nuance in tempo and dynamic variation from those of previous conductors, and has demonstrated the ability to inventively work through musical difficulties. Musical ability is only one important factor in overall conductor abilities. Tigran has demonstrated a willingness and effort to participate in planning and social meetings, and has worked to gain an understanding of the orchestra as a group of people. He has also, very importantly, demonstrated an ability to deal with the sometimes delicate personal relationships that are critical to genial and productive group cooperation.
James Lux | Board President, Whidbey Island Orchestra