It is impossible to overestimate the importance of creativity of great Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian and his contribution to the world music culture. The works of this talent are close to heart and loved by people on different continents, his music can truly be considered as the heritage of all mankind.
Taking into consideration this indisputable fact, from 2003 in June 6-13 in Yerevan is being held Aram Khachaturian international competition. Originally the competition was aimed at identifying talented young musicians in three specialties - "Piano," "Violin" and "Cello", but since 2011 young composers also have been provided with an opportunity to participate in the competition. The project was implemented thanks to joint efforts of RA Ministry of Culture, "Aram Khachaturian-competition" Cultural Foundation and Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory. It is held under the high patronage of the First Lady of RA Mrs. Rita Sargsyan, who is honorary president of the board of trustees of the competition. The board of trustees includes such well-known figures as its vice-presidents Sergey Sarajyan and Lucy Ishkhanian, Robert Amirkhanian, Professor Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, Professor David Kazarian, Professor Von Reyngart Gutzeyt, Nune Sargsian, Valery Gergiev, Mikhail Shvydkoi, Pavel Kogan, Elizhbieta and Kshishtoff Penderecki, Professor Eduard Mirzoyan, Professor Alexander Sokolov, Professor Alexander Tchaikovsky and other significant persons. In 2008, during a regular meeting of the board of trustees a new President, executive director IFESCCO, Ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary, composer, and RA honored artist professor Armen Smbatyan had been elected.
Geography of participants is very wide, it incorporates representatives from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Britain, China, Belgium and other countries.
During the seven years of competition jury staff included such important personalities as Jasper Perrot (UK), Lucy Ishkhanian (USA), Alexander Sokolov (Russia), Chun Pan (China), Svetlana Navasardian (Armenia), Rustem Ayrudinov (UK), and others. A list of these names guarantees impartiality and determines the status and high level of the competition.
Consolidation of so many talented people of different nationalities within a single project has also another important result: the guests of the capital are being introduced to the age-old culture of Armenia, they are visiting the sights and later taking away with them wonderful memories of the land, which history goes far back in the days when Noy’s Ark settled on the biblical Mount Ararat.
Aram Khachaturian
Rita Sargsyan
