Narek Hakhnazaryan

Hakhnazaryan has performed with orchestras such as the Orchestre de Paris, London Symphony, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Frankfurt Radio, Berlin Konzerthaus, Chicago Symphony, LA Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony, NHK Symphony, Seoul Philharmonic orchestras, and with conductors such as Gergiev, Hrusa, Koopman, Metzmacher, Pletnev, Slatkin, Sokhiev, Robertson, Bringuier. He has toured Spain with the WDR Symphony/Saraste, the US with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra/Neemi Järvi and Japan with the Czech Philharmonic/Bělohlávek.

An eager chamber and recital performer Hakhnazaryan has played in halls such as the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Salle Pleyel Paris, Wigmore Hall, Berlin Konzerthaus, Vienna Konzerthaus, Shanghai Concert Hall, Carnegie Hall, Jordan Hall (Boston) and in summer 2017 toured SE Asia with concerts in Taipei, Seoul, Tokyo and Kyoto, where he performed the complete Bach cello solo suites. Hakhnazaryan has also performed at the Verbier, Lucerne, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Beethovenfest Bonn, Kissinger Sommer, Ravinia, Aspen, Piatigorsky, Mikkeli and Pau Casals Festivals amongst many others.

Highlights of Hakhnazaryan’s 17/18 season include his debut with the Baltimore Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, St Louis Symphony, Stavanger Symphony, Orchestra I Pomeriggi Musicali (Milan) and Belgrade Philharmonic orchestras, a return to the RTE National Symphony Orchestra and a tour of the US with the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra. He is Artist-in-Residence of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and has performed at the Vienna Konzerthaus several times throughout the season as one of their Great Talents, both in chamber concerts and in recital. Joining forces with Zuo Zhang and Esther Yoo to form the Z.E.N. Trio, Hakhnazaryan toured the UK and SE Asia, performing across China and Hong Kong to mark the release of their first recording on Deutsche Grammophon. In recital he returned to London’s Wigmore Hall and has performed in most of the major cities across North America, including New York City, Chicago, San Francisco and Toronto. Hakhnazaryan also appears throughout the Summer at Aspen Music Festival, Ottawa Chamberfest, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Bellingham Festival of Music, Brevard Music Festival, Colorado Music Festival and Moritzburg Festival.

Mentored by the late Rostropovich, Hakhnazaryan received an Artist Diploma from the New England Conservatory of Music in 2011 where he studied with Lawrence Lesser. Prior to this he studied at the Moscow Conservatory with Alexey Seleznyov and at the Sayat-Nova School of Music in Yerevan with Zareh Sarkisyan. Hakhnazaryan has received scholarships from the Rostropovich Foundation and the New Names Foundation, and his prizes include First Prize in the 2006 Aram Khachaturian International Competition in Armenia and First Place in the 2006 Johansen International Competition for Young String Players. As First Prize winner in the 2008 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, Hakhnazaryan made his debut in Washington, DC and at Carnegie Hall.

Narek Hakhnazaryan was born in Yerevan, Armenia, into a family of musicians: his father is a violinist, his mother a pianist, and he performs regularly with his brother, the conductor Tigran Akhnazarian. In September 2017 he was awarded the title of “Honored Artist of Armenia” by the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan. Hakhnazaryan plays the 1707 Joseph Guarneri cello and F.X. Tourte and Benoit Rolland bows.

2017/18 season / 629 words. Not to be altered without permission.