List of Armenian American musicians
Encyclopedia
This is a list of famous Armenian American musicians. For other famous Armenian Americans, see List of Armenian Americans.
- Tigran Nersisyan- violinist
- Dennis AgajanianDennis AgajanianDennis Agajanian is a Christian musician. Agajanian has played at countless churches across the world, plus he has been featured at the Harvest Crusades and Billy Graham's crusades. He is of Armenian origin. Dennis is a five time Musician of the year, and a three time Entertainer of the year CCMA...
– Christian musician - Anahid AjemianAnahid AjemianAnahid Ajemian is an American violinist. Ajemian's career in contemporary music got its impetus from the desire to help young composers of her generation have their compositions performed. Additionally, she enjoyed performing the music of established contemporary performers...
– violinist - Maro AjemianMaro AjemianMaro Ajemian was an American pianist. Ajemian's career in contemporary music got its impetus from her Armenian heritage; she became known as a contemporary pianist after performing the U.S...
– pianist - Roupen AltiparmakianRoupen AltiparmakianRoupen Altiparmakian is a master of the violin and oud, born in Adana, Turkey.-Career:When he was a child, Altiparmakian's family moved to Athens, Greece. He got his first violin from his father when he was eight years old. His studies of music at the Conservatory of Athens were interrupted by...
- violinist and oudist - Lucine AmaraLucine AmaraLucine Amara is an American soprano who was largely based at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.-Biography:Amara was born Lucine Armaganian in Hartford, Connecticut, of Armenian heritage, before moving to San Francisco where she was raised.She studied at the San Francisco's Community Music School...
- soprano - Levon AmbartsumianLevon AmbartsumianLevon Ambartsumian is Armenian classical violinist and conductor. Levon Ambartsumian currently lives and works in Athens, Georgia, United States....
– violinist and conductor - Charles AmirkhanianCharles AmirkhanianCharles Amirkhanian is an American composer. He is a percussionist, sound poet, and radio producer of Armenian extraction. He is mostly known for his electroacoustic and text-sound music...
– composer - Armen AnassianArmen AnassianArmen Anassian is an Armenian violinist who has played with the Los Angeles Opera and is concertmaster of the Santa Clarita Symphony, in Santa Clarita, California. He has performed in hundreds of concerts around the world with many notable symphony orchestras...
– violinist - Tigran Arakelyan – flutist and conductor
- Şahan ArzruniSahan ArzruniŞahan Arzruni is an Armenian pianist, composer, ethnomusicologist, lecturer, writer and producer.Arzruni was born in Istanbul, Turkey, whose family name belongs to an ancient Armenian dynasty...
– pianist, composer, and ethnomusicologist - Albert AsriyanAlbert AsriyanAlbert Asriyan was a Soviet-Armenian violinist, composer, arranger and band leader.- Childhood :Albert Asriyan was born in Baku, Azerbaijan SSR on June 28, 1951 to an Armenian family, as the first of three children. Albert's father, Mikhail Asriyan was a circus administrator and his mother,...
– violinist, composer, arranger and band leader - Jeff AtmajianJeff AtmajianJeff Atmajian is an arranger and orchestrator for films. His steady clientele are composers such as James Newton Howard, Marc Shaiman, Rachel Portman and Gabriel Yared. In the past two years Jeff has been pursuing a more high profile composing career...
– arranger and orchestrator - Sevan AydinianSevan AydinianSevan Aydinian , also known as Apollo Poetry, is an Armenian American spoken word poet, hip hop artist, filmmaker, humanitarian, and author. He is the founder of The Traveling Poet Project....
– hip hop artist - Ara BabajianAra BabajianAra Babajian is an American drummer who has been a member of such bands as Leftöver Crack and The Slackers. Ara is of Armenian descent, and is named after Ara, an Armenian king....
– drummer and member of Leftöver CrackLeftöver CrackLeftöver Crack is an American punk rock band formed in 1998, following the breakup of the ska punk band Choking Victim. Primarily playing an amalgam of ska and hardcore punk, they classify themselves as "crack-rocksteady". The band is currently signed to Fat Wreck Chords for CD releases, and...
and The SlackersThe SlackersThe Slackers are a New York City band, formed in Brooklyn in 1991. The band's sound is a mix of ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub, soul, garage rock, and jazz... - Harry BabasinHarry BabasinHarry Babasin was an American jazz bassist. His nickname was "The Bear".-Biography:...
– jazz bassist - Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. – pianist, singer, and songwriter
- Clint BajakianClint BajakianClint Bajakian is an American video game composer and musician.-Biography:Bajakian was born in Massachusetts, United States. He was linked with music since age of 8. In middle school Bajakian played in marching bands, and also played in range of rock bands...
– video game composer and musician - Eve BeglarianEve BeglarianEve Beglarian is a contemporary American composer, performer and audio producer of Armenian descent...
– composer - Bei Ru – composer and DJ
- Ara BerberianAra BerberianAra Berberian was an American operatic bass singer.Berberian made his debut in 1958 with the Turnau Opera in Woodstock, New York, as Don Magnifico in Rossini's La Cenerentola. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1979 as Zacharie in Giacomo Meyerbeer's Le prophète...
– operatic bass singer - Cathy BerberianCathy BerberianCatherine Anahid Berberian was an American soprano and composer. She interpreted contemporary avant-garde music composed, among others, by Luciano Berio, Bruno Maderna, John Cage, Henri Pousseur, Sylvano Bussotti, Darius Milhaud, Roman Haubenstock-Ramati , Igor Stravinsky.She also interpreted...
– composer, mezzo-soprano singer, and vocalist - John BerberianJohn BerberianJohn Berberian is an American musician known for his virtuosity on the oud, the Middle Eastern stringed instrument.Berberian was born in New York City; his parents were Armenian immigrants...
– oudist - Armen ChakmakianArmen ChakmakianArmen Chakmakian is an Armenian-American musician, composer, recording artist, and producer. Formerly the keyboardist for the Grammy award-winning band Shadowfax, their 1992 CD, "Esperanto" was nominated for a Best New Age Album Grammy Award. He has released two solo albums on his label TruArt...
– composer - Haroutioun Hovanes ChakmakjianHaroutioun Hovanes ChakmakjianHaroutioun Hovanes Chakmakjian was a published scientist, as well as the father of American composer Alan Hovhaness.-Family/Early background:...
– composer - CherCherCher is an American recording artist, television personality, actress, director, record producer and philanthropist. Referred to as the Goddess of Pop, she has won an Academy Award, a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, three Golden Globes and a Cannes Film Festival Award among others for her work in...
– pop singer-songwriter - Anita DarianAnita DarianAnita Darian is an American singer and actress who has had an active career since the 1950s. Aa a soprano, Darian has performed roles with the New York City Opera and been a featured soloist with the New York Philharmonic. She has also performed and recorded several roles from musicals during her...
- soprano - vocalist - The Lion Sleeps TonightThe Lion Sleeps Tonight"The Lion Sleeps Tonight", also known as "Wimoweh" and originally as "Mbube", is a song recorded by Solomon Linda and his group The Evening Birds for the South African Gallo Record Company in 1939. It was covered internationally by many 1950s pop and folk revival artists, including The Weavers,... - Ara DinkjianAra DinkjianAra Dinkjian is an Armenian-American musician. He is the founder of the band Night Ark. Ara Dinkjian is considered one of the top oud players in the world, his compositions have been recorded in thirteen different languages, which include the multi-platinum hit "Dinata", it was performed in the...
– oudist - John DolmayanJohn DolmayanJohn William Dolmayan is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American songwriter and drummer. He is best known as the drummer of System of a Down. Dolmayan is also the drummer for the band Scars on Broadway and Indicator....
– songwriter, drummer, and member of System of a DownSystem of a DownSystem of a Down, also known by the acronym SOAD and often shortened to System, is a rock band from Southern California. The band was formed in 1994. It consists of Serj Tankian , Daron Malakian , Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan... - Peter DombourianPeter DombourianPeter Mampreh Dombourian , was active in musical circles in New Orleans, Louisiana, as a music educator, conductor, and musician.-Early life:...
– music educator, and conductor - Armen DonelianArmen DonelianArmen Donelian is a jazz pianist who was a member of the Jazz fusion group Cosmology. He has performed since 1975 as a member of a group or as a solo act...
– jazz pianist - Kallen EsperianKallen EsperianKallen Esperian, born in Barrington, Illinois on , is an Armenian-American lyric soprano.-History:After earning her degree at the University of Illinois, Kallen Esperian went on to win the Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition in 1985...
– lyric soprano - Ivan GalamianIvan GalamianIvan Alexander Galamian was an influential Armenian violin teacher of the twentieth century.He was born in Tabriz, Iran, but his family soon emigrated to Moscow, Russia. Galamian studied violin at the School of the Philharmonic Society there with Konstantin Mostras until his graduation in 1919...
– influential violin teacher of the twentieth century - Michael GulezianMichael GulezianMichael Gulezian is an American composer and Fingerstyle guitarist. He is noted for dramatic compositions, a penchant for manipulating metre, an affinity for open tunings, and an unconventionally free two-handed technical approach...
– composer and Fingerstyle guitarist - Richard HagopianRichard HagopianRichard Avedis Hagopian is an American Oriental-style oud player and traditional Armenian musician.Hagopian was born in Fowler, California. He has been a musician since childhood, learning to play the violin and clarinet at nine years old. He started playing the oud at age of 11...
– oudist, violinist, and clarinet - Adiss HarmandianAdiss HarmandianAdiss Harmandian is a Lebanese-Armenian pop singer but now residing in Los Angeles, CA, United States and is a naturalized American citizen....
– pop singer - Sib HashianSib HashianJohn "Sib" Hashian is a drummer who was a member of the rock band Boston during their first and most successful lineup. Hashian currently lives in Lynnfield, Massachusetts. Sib is of Armenian descent.-Boston years:...
– drummer and member of the rock band BostonBoston (band)Boston is an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts that achieved its most notable successes during the 1970s and 1980s. Centered on guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and producer Tom Scholz, the band is a staple of classic rock radio playlists... - John HeraldJohn HeraldJohn Herald was an American folk and bluegrass songwriter, solo and studio musician, and one-time member of The Greenbriar Boys trio.-Biography:...
– folk and bluegrass songwriter, solo and studio musician, and one-time member of The Greenbriar BoysThe Greenbriar BoysThe Greenbriar Boys were a seminal northern bluegrass music group who first got together in jam sessions in New York's Washington Square Park. Along with the New Lost City Ramblers, their urban traditional country sound inspired a generation of musicians and fans.-Biography:In 1959,...
trio - Alan HovhanessAlan HovhanessAlan Hovhaness was an Armenian-American composer.His music is accessible to the lay listener and often evokes a mood of mystery or contemplation...
– among the most prolific of 20th century composers - Tonio KTonio KTonio K. is an American singer/songwriter who has released eight albums. His songs have been recorded by Al Green, Aaron Neville, Burt Bacharach, Bonnie Raitt, Chicago, Wynonna Judd and Vanessa Williams...
– singer/songwriter - Alexander KaloianAlexander KaloianAlexander Kaloian born 1962 in Los Angeles, California is an Armenian composer, residing dually in the United States and the Republic of Armenia...
– composer - Tamar KaprelianTamar KaprelianTamar Kaprelian is an Armenian American musician and singer. She is best known for her single "New Day" and for winning the OneRepublic "Apologize" Cover Contest in March 2008...
– singer - Kim KashkashianKim KashkashianKim Kashkashian is an Armenian-American violist.-Professional career:Kim Kashkashian studied the viola with Karen Tuttle. She also studied at the Interlochen Center for the Arts. She won the 2nd prize at the 1980 Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition and the 1980 ARD International Music...
– violist - Ani KavafianAni KavafianAni Kavafian is a classical violinist and professor at the Yale School of Music.Kavafian was born in Istanbul to parents of Armenian descent. In 1956 she moved with her family to Detroit, by which time she had begun playing piano. She began on violin at age nine, studying under Ara Zerounian and...
– classical violinist - Ida KavafianIda KavafianIda Kavafian is a classical violinist and violist.Kavafian was born in Turkey to Armenian parents. She moved with her family to America in 1956, and began studying violin in Detroit at age six...
– classical violinist and violist - Ontronik Khachaturian – singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and drummer member of System of a DownSystem of a DownSystem of a Down, also known by the acronym SOAD and often shortened to System, is a rock band from Southern California. The band was formed in 1994. It consists of Serj Tankian , Daron Malakian , Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan...
- Konstantin Orbelyan, Jr.Konstantin Orbelyan, Jr.Konstantin Garrievich Orbelyan, Jr. is an Armenian pianist, conductor of State Academic Chamber Orchestra of Russia. In 2004 he became the first foreign citizen awarded the Renowned Artist of Russia title.-External links:*...
– pianist, and conductor of State Academic Chamber Orchestra of Russia - Daron MalakianDaron MalakianDaron Vartan Malakian is an Armenian-American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He is best known as the guitarist, songwriter, and occasional vocalist of the heavy metal band System of a Down and as the lead vocalist, lead guitarist, and songwriter of the alternative...
– singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer, lead guitarist, songwriter, and occasional vocalist of the Grammy Award-winning metal band System of a DownSystem of a DownSystem of a Down, also known by the acronym SOAD and often shortened to System, is a rock band from Southern California. The band was formed in 1994. It consists of Serj Tankian , Daron Malakian , Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan...
. He placed 30th in Guitar World's List of The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Guitarists of All Time - Haig MardirosianHaig MardirosianHaig Mardirosian Haig Mardirosian is Dean of the College of Arts and Letters at the University of Tampa, a concert organist, composer, and conductor. He has performed in many of the most important concert venues throughout North America and Europe...
– concert organist, composer, and conductor - Paul MotianPaul MotianStephen Paul Motian was an American jazz drummer, percussionist and composer of Armenian extraction.He first came to prominence in the late 1950s in the piano trio of Bill Evans, and later led several groups...
– jazz drummer, percussionist and composer of Armenian extraction - Stephanie NakasianStephanie NakasianStephanie Nakasian is an American jazz vocalist and voice teacher.-Early life:Born in Washington, D.C., Stephanie grew up in Bronxville, NY. She studied classical piano, violin, sang in choirs, and studied voice. She majored in economics at Northwestern University, where she received her BA and...
– jazz vocalist and voice teacher - Armen NalbandianArmen NalbandianArmen Nalbandian is a jazz pianist, composer & humanitarian.-Music:In addition to the piano, he has been known to perform on the prepared Fender Rhodes mechanical piano, and contributes to produce jazz, improvised and experimental music in California...
– jazz pianist, and composer - Yvette NelsonYvette NelsonYvette Stefens Nelson is an American model, actress and Singer-songwriter.-Television and film roles:*The Tonight Show with Jay Leno *Lingerie Bowl *Medium, episode - "In Sickness and Adultery"...
– Singer-songwriter - Shavo OdadjianShavo OdadjianShavarsh "Shavo" Odadjian is an Armenian American songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, music video director/editor, music producer, and artist/painter. He is best known as the bassist, backing vocalist and occasional songwriter of the Grammy Award-winning rock band System of a Down...
– songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, music video director/editor, music producer, and artist/painter, best known as the bassist and occasional songwriter of the Grammy Award-winning rock band, System of a DownSystem of a DownSystem of a Down, also known by the acronym SOAD and often shortened to System, is a rock band from Southern California. The band was formed in 1994. It consists of Serj Tankian , Daron Malakian , Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan... - Beatrice OhanessianBeatrice OhanessianBeatrice Ohanessian was an Iraqi Armenian pianist, notable for being Iraq's first concert pianist and first female composer.-Early life and education:...
– pianist, notable for being Iraq's first concert pianist and first female composer - David OhanianDavid Ohanian-Accomplishments:*French Horn - B.M., New England Conservatory*Fellow, Tanglewood Music Center, 63, 64, 65*Horn study with James Stagliano*Doctorate Honoris Causa Hartwick College, Doctorate Honoris Causa, New England Conservatory...
– French horn player - Michael OmartianMichael OmartianMichael Omartian is an Armenian-American singer-songwriter, keyboardist, and music producer. He has been a participant in over 350,000,000 albums and CD’s sold worldwide, as a producer, arranger, artist or musician, during a career that has spanned over 38 years...
– singer-songwriter, keyboardist, and music producer - Rob ParavonianRob ParavonianRob Paravonian is a comedian, best known for his "Pachelbel Rant" which parodies the use of the chord progression from Pachelbel's Canon in many popular songs.-Music:...
– music comedian, best known for his "Pachelbel Rant" - Armen RaArmen RaArmen Ra is an American artist and performer of Iranian-Armenian descent.Born in Tehran, Iran, he was raised by his mother, a concert pianist, and his aunt, an opera singer and Ikebana master. He taught himself to play Theremin. His music fuses Armenian folk music with modern instrumentation, along...
– artist and performer - Dianne Goolkasian RahbeeDianne Goolkasian RahbeeDianne Goolkasian Rahbee is an American contemporary classical composer and pedagogue whose works are performed worldwide.- Biography :Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts...
– classical composer - Derek SherinianDerek SherinianDerek Sherinian is a rock keyboardist who has toured and recorded for Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Yngwie Malmsteen, Kiss, and Alice In Chains. He was also a member of Dream Theater and is the founder of the instrumental metal-fusion band Planet X...
– among the elite rock keyboardists in the world - Sebu Simonian – singer/songwriter/producer
- Greg Steele – guitarist in Faster PussycatFaster PussycatFaster Pussycat is an American hard rock band from Los Angeles, California formed in 1986. The group was most successful during the late 1980s with their self-titled debut album, their 1989 gold album Wake Me When It's Over and the 80,000 selling Whipped! in 1992.-The roots of Faster Pussycat...
- Grikor SuniGrikor SuniGrikor Mirzaian Suni was an Armenian composer.The music he wrote—choral works, songs, several operas, and...
– composer - Serj TankianSerj TankianSerj Tankian is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer–songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, playwright, record producer, poet, and political activist...
– rock singer–songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, poet, and a political activist, best known as the lead vocalist, songwriter, keyboardist, and occasionally live rhythm guitarist of the Grammy Award-winning rock band, System of a DownSystem of a DownSystem of a Down, also known by the acronym SOAD and often shortened to System, is a rock band from Southern California. The band was formed in 1994. It consists of Serj Tankian , Daron Malakian , Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan... - Armand TokatyanArmand TokatyanArmand Tokatyan was an operatic tenor. An Armenian born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, he travelled to Egypt with his parents where he sang in cafés to favorable response. He was then sent to Paris to study tailoring, but instead sang in Left Bank cafés. In 1914, he returned to Egypt and earned his...
– operatic tenor - Arto TunçboyacıyanArto TunçboyaciyanArto Tunçboyacıyan is an Armenian-Turkish musician. A famous avant-garde folk artist , he appeared on more than 200 records in Europe before arriving in the United States, where he went to work with numerous jazz legends including Chet Baker, Al Di Meola, and Joe Zawinul as well as a semi-regular...
- musician - Richard YardumianRichard YardumianRichard Yardumian was an Armenian-American classical music composer.-Life:Yardumian was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the youngest of ten children to Armenian immigrant parents, and began studying the piano at a very early age. His mother, Lucia, was a teacher and organist, and his father,...
– classical music composer - Berj ZamkochianBerj ZamkochianBerj Zamkochian was an Armenian-American organist. He studied at the New England Conservatory of Music and eventually joined the faculty. In 1957, at the age of 27, he was appointed organist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops Orchestra...
– organist