Seattle Weekly described his interpretation of Beethoven's Symphony Nr. 1 as "confident, convincing, lyrically phrased, excellent tempo, well-rehearsed and an exciting debut. Arakelyan took all four movements at a good clip."
"But many can’t imagine classical music in the Seattle area without Arakelyan.
... is known for finding unusual venues for all of his projects, from bars to cafes to homeless shelters." - Musical America Worldwide
"He has earned a high reputation in the music community as a talented musician and conductor, enriching the Washington music scene by boosting enrollment to new heights in both youth programs." - CitySoundbite
"Providing access to music education is the driving force behind Dr. Tigran Arakelyan’s work. Arakelyan also started the BIPOC composer commission, which focuses on works for piano and orchestra." - Yamaha Music USA
"But many can’t imagine classical music in the Seattle area without Arakelyan.
... is known for finding unusual venues for all of his projects, from bars to cafes to homeless shelters." - Musical America Worldwide
"He has earned a high reputation in the music community as a talented musician and conductor, enriching the Washington music scene by boosting enrollment to new heights in both youth programs." - CitySoundbite
"Providing access to music education is the driving force behind Dr. Tigran Arakelyan’s work. Arakelyan also started the BIPOC composer commission, which focuses on works for piano and orchestra." - Yamaha Music USA
Tigran Arakelyan is an Armenian-American conductor recognized for his dynamic leadership, innovative programming, and unwavering dedication to music education and community engagement. Named one of Musical America's Top 30 Professionals of the Year and included in Yamaha Music USA's 40 under 40 honorees. Recognized as a "highly-esteemed conductor across the Pacific Northwest" (The Leader), Tigran is the Music Director of the Northwest Mahler Festival and the Port Townsend Symphony. Previously, he was the assistant conductor of the California Philharmonic and the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra. Tigran conducted at prestigious venues such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles) and the Benaroya Hall (Seattle), but is equally passionate about taking classical music to unconventional venues. As noted by Musical America, he is "known for finding unusual venues for all of his projects, from bars to cafes to homeless shelters." Tigran's acclaimed concert at a Seattle bar in 2009, reviewed by Seattle Weekly, marked a historic moment as it was the first time an orchestra performed at a bar in the Pacific Northwest.
Tigran’s dedication to community engagement and collaborative leadership has earned him widespread acclaim. He was honored with the Seattle Sounders Community Assist Award, recognized by ParentMap Magazine as a Washington Superhero “The Conductor,” and named to 425 Business Magazine’s 40 Under 40 list of regional leaders. He has received numerous accolades, including awards from The American Prize for orchestral programming and the Global Music Awards for podcasting. Under his leadership, Seattle Mayor Bruce A. Harrell officially proclaimed July 26, 2025 as Northwest Mahler Festival Day — a celebration of the festival’s artistic legacy and Tigran’s impactful leadership. He played alongside Sir James Galway during Galway's induction into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.
Leadership & Impact
Tigran has spearheaded transformative growth across multiple organizations, combining artistic vision with strategic leadership. At the Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra, he achieved a significant budget increase without relying on grants—placing the orchestra among the few in the U.S. to reach this level of financial independence. As Music Director of the Federal Way Youth Symphony and Bainbridge Youth Orchestras, he led both organizations to record enrollment, expanded ensembles, premiered new works, and fostered collaborations with dance companies and choirs. Under his leadership, the Federal Way Youth Symphony toured South Korea in 2014, 2017, and 2019, performing in major cities including Seoul, Busan, and Jeju. During the pandemic, Tigran ensured Bainbridge Youth Orchestra’s continuity through outdoor rehearsals and virtual concerts, making it one of the few youth orchestras nationwide to adapt successfully. He has shared the stage with legendary performers such as Dick Van Dyke, Richard M. Sherman, June Lockhart, Carol Lawrence, Pat Boone, Wink Martindale, and Army Archerd.
Advancing Music Education & Diversity
Yamaha Music USA stated, "Providing access to music education is the driving force behind Dr. Tigran Arakelyan’s work." His profound dedication to equity and diversity is rooted in his formative experiences with equity-driven arts organizations during his youth. Tigran has established several impactful initiatives, including a BIPOC composer commission project, a free one-on-one private lessons program, a public-school outreach initiative, a free masterclass series, and various scholarships, grants, and funding opportunities for underserved youth. Additionally, he has founded numerous musical projects, such as an orchestral strings festival, a chamber orchestra, young artist competitions, composer competitions, and a chamber music series. Tigran was also the founder and Music Director of the Cadence Chamber Orchestra (WA), the Youth Orchestra at Lark Musical Society (CA), and the co-founder of Campus Philharmonia at the University of Washington.
Innovative Programming & Premieres
Tigran’s programming champions diversity and emerging talent, spotlighting underrepresented and young composers in thoughtfully curated concerts. He has conducted works by a wide range of voices, from Florence Price, Arthur Bird, John Barnes Chance, to William Grant Still, Amy Beach, and Karel Husa. He conducted over fifty regional and world premieres by acclaimed composers such as Paul Hindemith, Keith Jarrett, James Cohn and Peter Boyer.
Education
Tigran is a three-time awardee of the Armenian General Benevolent Union Performing Arts Fellowship, and is the first prize winner at the Armenian Allied Arts Competition. He participated in the Conductors Guild Workshop, Monteux School and Music Festival, 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.
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 David A. Rahbee and Morlot. His mentors are Victor Vener, John Barcellona, Paul Taub, and Laura Osborn. Tigran holds degrees from California State University, Northridge and Cornish College of the Arts, now part of Seattle University. In his youth, he played in the Los Angeles Junior Philharmonic Orchestra and attended the Lark Musical Society.
Podcast & Radio
Tigran was the host and producer of a radio show on KPTZ (91.9 FM) called Exploring Music (2020–2022). He shared 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 the Grammy Awards, Pulitzer Prize, MacArthur Fellow, Rome Prize, and 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.
Tigran’s dedication to community engagement and collaborative leadership has earned him widespread acclaim. He was honored with the Seattle Sounders Community Assist Award, recognized by ParentMap Magazine as a Washington Superhero “The Conductor,” and named to 425 Business Magazine’s 40 Under 40 list of regional leaders. He has received numerous accolades, including awards from The American Prize for orchestral programming and the Global Music Awards for podcasting. Under his leadership, Seattle Mayor Bruce A. Harrell officially proclaimed July 26, 2025 as Northwest Mahler Festival Day — a celebration of the festival’s artistic legacy and Tigran’s impactful leadership. He played alongside Sir James Galway during Galway's induction into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.
Leadership & Impact
Tigran has spearheaded transformative growth across multiple organizations, combining artistic vision with strategic leadership. At the Port Townsend Symphony Orchestra, he achieved a significant budget increase without relying on grants—placing the orchestra among the few in the U.S. to reach this level of financial independence. As Music Director of the Federal Way Youth Symphony and Bainbridge Youth Orchestras, he led both organizations to record enrollment, expanded ensembles, premiered new works, and fostered collaborations with dance companies and choirs. Under his leadership, the Federal Way Youth Symphony toured South Korea in 2014, 2017, and 2019, performing in major cities including Seoul, Busan, and Jeju. During the pandemic, Tigran ensured Bainbridge Youth Orchestra’s continuity through outdoor rehearsals and virtual concerts, making it one of the few youth orchestras nationwide to adapt successfully. He has shared the stage with legendary performers such as Dick Van Dyke, Richard M. Sherman, June Lockhart, Carol Lawrence, Pat Boone, Wink Martindale, and Army Archerd.
Advancing Music Education & Diversity
Yamaha Music USA stated, "Providing access to music education is the driving force behind Dr. Tigran Arakelyan’s work." His profound dedication to equity and diversity is rooted in his formative experiences with equity-driven arts organizations during his youth. Tigran has established several impactful initiatives, including a BIPOC composer commission project, a free one-on-one private lessons program, a public-school outreach initiative, a free masterclass series, and various scholarships, grants, and funding opportunities for underserved youth. Additionally, he has founded numerous musical projects, such as an orchestral strings festival, a chamber orchestra, young artist competitions, composer competitions, and a chamber music series. Tigran was also the founder and Music Director of the Cadence Chamber Orchestra (WA), the Youth Orchestra at Lark Musical Society (CA), and the co-founder of Campus Philharmonia at the University of Washington.
Innovative Programming & Premieres
Tigran’s programming champions diversity and emerging talent, spotlighting underrepresented and young composers in thoughtfully curated concerts. He has conducted works by a wide range of voices, from Florence Price, Arthur Bird, John Barnes Chance, to William Grant Still, Amy Beach, and Karel Husa. He conducted over fifty regional and world premieres by acclaimed composers such as Paul Hindemith, Keith Jarrett, James Cohn and Peter Boyer.
Education
Tigran is a three-time awardee of the Armenian General Benevolent Union Performing Arts Fellowship, and is the first prize winner at the Armenian Allied Arts Competition. He participated in the Conductors Guild Workshop, Monteux School and Music Festival, 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.
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 David A. Rahbee and Morlot. His mentors are Victor Vener, John Barcellona, Paul Taub, and Laura Osborn. Tigran holds degrees from California State University, Northridge and Cornish College of the Arts, now part of Seattle University. In his youth, he played in the Los Angeles Junior Philharmonic Orchestra and attended the Lark Musical Society.
Podcast & Radio
Tigran was the host and producer of a radio show on KPTZ (91.9 FM) called Exploring Music (2020–2022). He shared 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 the Grammy Awards, Pulitzer Prize, MacArthur Fellow, Rome Prize, and 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.
"Led by Arakelyan, a highly-esteemed conductor across the Pacific Northwest, the all-volunteer group will perform three classical pieces composed by Alan Hovhaness, Brenno Blauth, and Leoš Janácek. Arakelyan has brought a new level of competence to the nonprofit, bringing an annual chamber music program and a higher degree of passion and pride. Under the instruction of Arakelyan, the group’s sound and tone is anything but amateur..." - The Leader
"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
"Rising Star" - The Armenian Mirror Spectator
"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
"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
"Rising Star" - The Armenian Mirror Spectator
"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
