Loris Tjeknavorian (also spelled Cheknavarian, Armenian: Լորիս Ճգնավորյան; Persian: لوریس چکناواریان, born October 13, 1937) is a contemporary Iranian-Armenian composer and conductor. He was born in Borujerd in the province of Lorestan, southwestern Iran, and was educated in Tehran.

In the course of his career, Tjeknavarian has made about 100 recordings (with RCA, Philips, EMI, ASV, etc.) and written more than 75 compositions (symphonies, operas, a requiem, chamber music, concerto for piano, violin, guitar, cello and pipa (Chinese lute), ballet music, choral works and an oratorio. And over 45 Film mosaics. Tjeknavarian also has conducted international orchestras throughout the world: in Austria, UK, U.S., Canada, Hungary, Iran, Finland, former USSR, Armenia, Thailand, Hong Kong, South Africa, Denmark, Israel, etc.

His own compositions have been performed by major orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Halle Orchestra, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, the American Symphony Orchestra in New York, the Tehran Symphony Orchestra, the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra, the Haifa Symphony Orchestra, the Mexico Symphony Orchestra, the London Percussion Virtuosi, the Strasbourg Percussion Ensemble, English Chamber Orchestra, etc.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Armenian Philharmonic 3 Awards 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Biography

After studying violin and piano at the Tehran Conservatory of Music, Tjeknavorian studied composition at the Vienna Music Academy, where, in 1961, he graduated with honors. Shortly after his graduation, four of his piano compositions and his ballet Fantastique for three pianos, celeste and percussion were published by Doeblinger in Vienna. From 1961 to 1963 Tjeknavarian taught music theory at the Tehran Conservatory of Music. At the same time, he was appointed director of the National Music Archives in Tehran and was in charge of collecting and researching traditional Iranian folk music and national instruments.

In 1963, back in Austria, Professor Carl Orff ^[1] granted him a scholarship, which allowed him to reside in Salzburg and to complete his opera Rostam and Sohrab. In 1965, Tjeknavarian began to study conducting at the University of Michigan, From 1966 to 1967 he was appointed composer in residence at the Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, and from 1966 to 1970 head of the instrumental and Opera Departments at the Moorhead University in Minnesota.

In 1970, the Iranian Cultural Minister offered Tjeknavarian a "position as composer in residence" including principal conductor to the Rudaki Opera House Orchestra in Tehran. He then conducted a number of major operas including his own works, such as his Fairytale opera Pardis and Parisa and the Dance drama Simorgh. In 1975 Tjeknavarian signed an "Exclusive Conducting" contract, with the RCA recording company and made many successful recordings with leading orchestras, such as the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

After the Iranian Revolution of 1979 he emigrated to the Soviet Union and to Austria, where he received under Chancellor Bruno Kreisky Austrian Citizenship. He lived from 1990 to 2000 in Vienna. Currently he resides in Yerevan.

[edit] Armenian Philharmonic

In 1989, Tjeknavarian was appointed Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra (APO). During his eleven years collaboration with the APO, his recordings for ORF (the Austrian radio and television station) and ASV (an English recording company) achieved worldwide recognition, they frequently toured Europe, the United States, Canada, Iran and Lebanon. In three successive years, from 1991 to 1993, the APO was the resident orchestra in the ORF benefit program "Licht ins Dunkel" in Vienna. However, in 2000, Tjeknavarian resigned from this position in order to be able to devote more time to composing and conducting other orchestras.

Preceded by Vahagn Papian	Principal Conductors, Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra 1989–1998	Succeeded by Michael Avetissian
Preceded by Michael Avetissian	Principal Conductors, Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra 1999–2000	Succeeded by Eduard Topchjan

[edit] Awards

• Austria's Presidential Gold Medal of Artistic Merit (2008) ^[2]
• Austria's Cross of Honor for Science and Art, first class (2008)
• Awarded "Top Medal of Art", Iran's highest medal for performing arts (2002)
• Honorary Professorship at Komitas State Conservatory in Yerevan
• The Government of the Republic of Armenia awards "Khorenatsi" Medal for cultural services to Armenia.
• Gold Medal from the University of Armenia.
• Recipient of the "Golden Conducting Baton" from the Armenian Philharmonic Choir for Artistic Achievement.
• Received the "Government Order" from the Prime Minister of Armenian SSR (1989)

[edit] See also

• Music of Iran
• List of Iranians
• Persian Symphonic Music
• Rostam and Sohrab (opera)

[edit] References

• Iran Chamber Society www.iranchamber.com

[edit] External links

• Official website
• Shahname, Tragedy of Rostam and Sohrab, composed by Loris Tjeknavorian
• Photos of Tjeknavarian performing in Vahdat Hall in Tehran (1), January 18, 2006.
• Photos of Tjeknavarian performing in Vahdat Hall in Tehran (2), January 18, 2006.
• Austria honors Iran's Loris Tjeknavorian (Press TV 2008)