Tigran Erkanian

Tigran Yerkanian was born in Yerevan, Armenia, in 1963, in a family of musicians, and he began his musical studies at the age of six with his father Ruben Erkanian.

In 1971, at the age of 18, he graduated from P.I. Tchaikovsky School of Music for Gifted Children. He then entered the Komitas State Conservatory in Yerevan, and performed in numerous competitions and recitals around the country.

In 1986, he finished his studies with high marks, receiving a masters degree as a Orchestra Soloist and Professor of Violin.

He continued his career as violinist with several orchestras including the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, Ensemble for Violin Soloists, and the State Chamber Orchestra of Armenia, touring across the nation and the former Soviet Union. Meanwhile, he continued to perform as a soloist and dedicated himself to chamber music.

He was invited in 1988 as a violinist and violist by the “Tagharan” Early Music Ensemble, who performed medieval and Baroque music. They toured across Europe and also performed in South America on two occasions. In 1989 and 1990, he gave recitals in Argentina and Uruguay with this same group.

From 1993 until 2008, Tigran Erkanian was based in Argentina. He worked as the violin solo guide in the Avellaneda Symphony. Between 1994 and 1995, he participated in the National Symphony Orchestra and the "Bank of Mayo Chamber Orchestra".

From 1995 until 2008, he was one of the first violinists in the Philharmonic Orchestra of Buenos Aires. Most notably, he has performed with world renowned conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Charles Dutoit, and Franz-Paul Decker, he has accompanied Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, and Jose Carreras, and has played with the famous, Pinchas Zukerman, Itzhak Perlman, Midori, and Yo-Yo Ma.

Armen Mangasaryan

Armen Mangasaryan started his musical education in Yerevan, Armenia, at P.I. Tchaikovsky School of Music for Gifted Children and graduated in 1980. He continued his musical studies at the Yerevan State Conservatory named after Komitas with Professor Villi Mokatsyan. He graduated with an MM degree and qualification of Soloist of Orchestra in 1985. In 1981, Mr. Mangasaryan assumed the position of the first violinist with the conservatories’ opera studio orchestra where he worked until 1990 under the supervision of maestro Rafael Mangasaryan. At the same time, between 1985 to 1987, Mr. Mangasaryan was working with the National Radio and Television symphony orchestra as a first violinist. In 1990, Mr. Mangasaryan joined the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra and successfully performed in the USA, Canada, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Greece, Spain, and Russia. Mr. Mangasaryan moved to the Los Angeles area in the June of 2001 and joined the faculty of International School of Music in the August of 2001.

Sahak Karapetyan

Sahak Karapetyan was born in Armenia and earned his M.A. n music performance from the Komitas State Conservatory. He joined the “Tagharan” Early Music Ensemble in 1983 and five years later, became its Concertmaster and assistant Conductor representing Armenia during numerous performances in Western Europe, Latin America, Middle East, and Russia.

Other musical activities of Sahak Karapetyan include having been a Concertmaster of the Yerevan Symphony Orchestra (Armenia), a co-founder, Concertmaster and Assistant Conductor of the “Armenian State Youth Opera House” and serving as the Music Director of the St. Gregory Armenian Catholic Church in Glendale, California.

Currently, Sahak Karapetyan is a member of the Santa Barbara Symphony, Redlands Symphony, San Bernardino Symphony and regularly plays as a substitute with the Long Beach Symphony and Riverside Philharmonic.

Hovik Hovhannisyan

Hovik Hovhannisyan is an exceptional cellist and teacher. In 1980, he received his Bachelor’s degree as a cellist at the college of Peter Tchaikovsky in Yerevan, Armenia. He then earned his Master of Arts degree at the Komitas Conservatory of Armenia in 1986.

Hovik performed with the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra from 1986-2000, and recorded over twenty CD’s, in addition to traveling to the USA, Canada, Russia, Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland, England, Luxemburg, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, and many other countries. In 1985, he received first place in the Tran Caucasian competition for solo cello performers. In 2004, Hovik received the Angel and Gold Star Awards from the Southern California Motion Picture Council for his performance and contribution to the entertainment industry.

Hovik Hovhannisyan currently plays with the Southern California Philharmonic Orchestra as a principal cellist. He also plays with the Ventura Symphony Orchestra and the La Cañada Presbyterian Church Symphony Orchestra from 2006. Since 2008, he has been a member of the Hi-Am String Quartet.

Hovhannisyan has more than fifteen years of teaching experience. He currently teaches at the Tchaikovsky school of music in Walnut, California and at the Royal Academy of Music in Montobello. He also gives private lessons in Los Angeles, and the majority of his students have chosen music as their professional careers.