ARMEN GUZELIMIAN - Concert pianist, collaborative artist, master vocal coach
ARMEN GUZELIMIAN
is celebrated for his versatility as a top-notch collaborative artist, a brilliant soloist and first-rate chamber musician not only in Southern California, but all over the world. He has received national and international critical acclaim for his appearances in many of the major concert halls in the U.S.A and Europe.
He has appeared as soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, California Chamber Symphony, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, American Youth Symphony, the Pasadena Symphony/Pops Orchestra among others, with such conductors as Neville Marriner, Stuart Challenger, Mehli Mehta, Bruce Ferden and Michael Feinstein.
Photo by Philippe Morotti
As a chamber musician, Mr. Guzelimian's has appeared with the Rossetti String Quartet, the Los Angeles String Quartet, Camerata Pacifica, the Dilijan Chamber Music Series, Chamber Music in Historic Sites, the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, and the Aspen Festival. He made his Disney Hall debut in March of 2014 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Chamber Music Society and returned to the delight of audiences in November 2016.
Mr. Guzelimian has partnered such artists as violinists Viktoria Mullova, Thomas Zehermair, Ani and Ida Kavafian, and violists Lars Tomter and Kim Kashkashian.
Piano vocal partnerships have included appearances and work with such stars as Kiri Te Kanawa, Placido Domingo, Thomas Hampson, Lucia Popp, Florence Quivar, Peter Schreier, Rod Gilfrey, and Marni Nixon.
As a proponent of contemporary music, Mr. Guzelimian has had the privilege of working closely with the great composers Aram Khachaturian, Alan Hovhaness, Tigran Mansurian, Witold Lutoslawski, and most recently with Artur Avanesov. Composers Thomas Pasatieri and Byron Adams have both dedicated works for the pianist: a piano sonata and "Illuminations" for piano, respectively.
A passionate and devoted educator, Mr. Guzelimian has been on the faculty of the USC School of Music, the Music Academy of the West, and as guest lecturer at the Eastman School of Music, Loyola University New Orleans, Aspen Music Festival and School among numerous others where he has imparted his deep knowledge of opera, chamber music and vocal literature.
He has been the principal coach for the young artist program at Paris Opera and has been a master coach at the Merola Program at San Francisco Opera among others. He is frequently invited to sit on the panel of adjudicators for high profile competitions. He is also sought after to give Master Classes and as a private coach for opera and song repertoire.
As a recording artist, Mr. Guzelimian's performances are represented on the EMI, Angel, Teldec, Nonesuch, Delos and Crystal labels. He appears on the documentary film "Shadows in Paradise", as well as on Classical Arts Showcase, PBS and throughout Europe on Arte.