KORA MICHAELIAN

KORA MICHAELIAN is one of the most acclaimed young pianists in Armenia. For the adaptation of some classical works she has received a Master of Arts from UNESCO, and she has participated in many concerts for classical music. Michaelian who was born in Yerevan in 1971, owes much to her mother Tamara Avetikova, who is also a pianist, who encouraged her to begin piano lessons at the age of just 5 years old. Her talent for the piano has developed simultaneously with her abilites as a composer and an arranger, that derive from her valuable musical education: she is a graduate from the Tchaikovsky School and from The Komitas Auditorium, having as instructors , composer Edgar Hovanessian and arranger Alfred Terterian. Michaelian undertook the task of arranging the first album of NOR DAR, Opus of the Lizard. She has also worked extensuvely with Giorgos Maglaras, Djivan Gasparyan and recently with Andreas Georgiou and Eberhard Weber on the album "Vananda" [LM016-2].

Photo by Chris Kissadjekian

TIGRAN SARKISSIAN

Traditional Armenian wind instruments, that have created quite an impression in the West, charmed young Tigran Sarkissian from his youth. It was the sounds from the duduk of his uncle Armen Sarkissian. Tigran started to learn flute - shevi from the age of six, and then slowly moved on to the other Armenian traditional instruments. Today, apart from shevi he is a virtuoso soloist of the duduk, zourna, bag pipes, pku, the bloul and the sering; additionally he is also a capable player of classical instruments as is the clarinet, the oboe and saxophone. Tigran Sarkissian was born in Yerevan in 1968 and he is a graduate of the Romanos Melikian College. His main musical influences, besides his uncle were, Djivan Gasparyan and Vatsche Horsepian, with which he also has a personal relationship with. Sarkissian also has profound vocal abilities, that are also evident in the album OPUS of the LIZARD. Recently he participated in the drama performance directed by Lydia Koniordou, ELECTRA.

ORESTIS MOUSTIDIS

The close Greek - Armenian relations are depicted through Orestis Moustidis , one of the most acclaimed jazz musicians in Armenia, who has recently moved to Greece, the country of his ancestors. Orestis Moustidis was born in 1964 in Tbilisi, Soviet Georgia, from parents of Greek decent. A short while after his birth the family moved to Armenia, where Orestis grew up.He started out his musical career by learning drums and percussion at the age of only 10. His initial influences where from his pianist cousin Erieh Moustidis and his painter uncle, Homer Moustidis, who had an array of hearings in the area of Jazz and classical music. Very soon Orestis Moustidis expressed his interest in Jazz music, that was reinforced by his close relationship with his teacher Robert Yeolchian, one of the founders of the Armenian Jazz scene. Yeolchian was the main force that determined his musical direction. Orestis Moustidis has participated in many international Jazz festivals. Amongst his activities in the Greek musical scene is also his participation in the band of Michalis Nikoloudis.