Armen S  
Instruments: Piano
Styles: Classical, Jazz, Pop

As a child, I loved to sing. Although I could not understand the words, I relied on the sounds and melodies of songs—songs that were Russian, Armenian, and even English. I believe my concentration on the music and not the words lead me into my passion for the piano, which I started playing at the age of eight. Performing the Bach Preludes for my first concert, I was attached to the energy and spirit of the piano. As my skills developed, my desire to become a solo pianist grew. I am passionate about music, and I work to perfect my technique, striving to bring out the composer’s intentions in whatever piece I perform. Fundamentally, my interpretations stem from my life’s experiences: from the difficulties of becoming a classical musician to leaving my family in Armenia for Germany in order to pursue my passion for piano.

I have been brought up in the Russian/Soviet traditions of piano performance. I studied in Armenia and entered competitions in order to pursue a career as a concert pianist. However, my endeavors have led me towards experiences not merely as a soloist but also as a chamber musician. In Armenia I studied with Rosa Tandilyan who was responsible for my early training and for giving me a solid music education as an aspiring young pianist. Her relentless dedication to pedagogy provided me with top rate instruction, and gave me the foundation on which all my professional success was obtained. After winning the LB Bank Scholarship for Young Musicians (Germany), I moved to Karlsruhe, Germany, to study with Professor Olga Rissin at the Karlsruhe Hochschule für Musik. In Germany, I have performed numerous concerts as a soloist, receiving an invitation to record Bach’s Busoni Chaconne for the SWR Radio Station in Southern Germany. In 2010  I came to US and completed Artist Diploma at Hamline International Piano Institute with professor Alexander Braginsky.