Biography of a Pianist
Dr. Anna Vanesyan (maiden name Budaghyan) was born in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. Music has been a way of life for three generations of her family. Anna has played the piano since the age of five, and graduated from the special school for gifted children with honor. Afterwards, she entered the Komitas State Conservatory (one of the most prestigious Universities of USSR), where unlike the analogous institutions abroad, the students were taught thoroughly not only the subjects related to music, but also Social Sciences and Languages.
One of Confucius’ famous expressions, “Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life”, describes Anna’s Philosophy of life the best. Graduating from the Conservatory with honor (with Baccalaureate and then Master’s degree in Piano Performance, Accompaniment and Piano Teaching), she was given the opportunity to continue her education and complete the requirements for Post Graduate degree (aspirantura) in Piano Performance and graduated with Honors Diploma. During all years of her study, A. Vanesyan was honored to be in the piano class of leading professor of Conservatory Ketty Malkhasyan. Anna’s beloved professor graduated from Moscow Conservatory, class of legendary professor K. Igumnov, who was considered the founder of Moscow Piano Performance School.
Since 1993 Anna Vanesyan has launched a very successful career. She worked as a performer, accompanist and pedagogue at various teaching levels: music schools, college and as the assistant professor at Yerevan State Conservatory, developing her teaching skills and gaining valuable work experience. Music has been not only her vocation: it was her joy, her daily discovery, and her avocation. In 1998 Mrs. Vanesyan established the first musical department in Armenian schools, at Avan college, and became the head of it.
One of Confucius’ famous expressions, “Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life”, describes Anna’s Philosophy of life the best. Graduating from the Conservatory with honor (with Baccalaureate and then Master’s degree in Piano Performance, Accompaniment and Piano Teaching), she was given the opportunity to continue her education and complete the requirements for Post Graduate degree (aspirantura) in Piano Performance and graduated with Honors Diploma. During all years of her study, A. Vanesyan was honored to be in the piano class of leading professor of Conservatory Ketty Malkhasyan. Anna’s beloved professor graduated from Moscow Conservatory, class of legendary professor K. Igumnov, who was considered the founder of Moscow Piano Performance School.
Since 1993 Anna Vanesyan has launched a very successful career. She worked as a performer, accompanist and pedagogue at various teaching levels: music schools, college and as the assistant professor at Yerevan State Conservatory, developing her teaching skills and gaining valuable work experience. Music has been not only her vocation: it was her joy, her daily discovery, and her avocation. In 1998 Mrs. Vanesyan established the first musical department in Armenian schools, at Avan college, and became the head of it.
Having a genuine heartfelt desire and recognized need to update her knowledge base in the field of education, Anna applied and was awarded with one of the most famed educational fellowships—the “Muskie/Freedom Support Act Graduate Fellowship Program”, in the area of Executive Development for Public Service, with the emphasis on Adult Education and Educational Administration. She was admitted to the Graduate Program at Ball State University (BSU), Muncie, IN, USA, and moved to begin her studies and personal journey. Anna benefited from a multitude of opportunities for research, collaboration, community partnerships, the experience and knowledge of the respected faculty of teacher-scholars.
During her studies in the US, she was regularly invited to the BSU School of Music to perform at festivals, accompany doctoral and graduate recitals, adjudicate various competitions and auditions. She was honored to perform a world premier of a piano reduction of Flute Concerto written by American composer Don Freund at the Festival of New music, organized at BSU in March 2004. In 2004 her article, “How Armenia sounds in the State of Indiana” about BSU School of Music, was published in “Scholars Forum” (the Journal of Open Society Institute). Anna was also invited to perform at the welcoming ceremony of Betsy Rogers, 2003 National Teacher of the Year.
After being back to Armenia in 2004, she was appointed as an Executive Director of American Graduates Association of Armenia, public organization with 105 members, all of whom hold graduate or higher degrees from the US top educational institutions.
Being granted the teaching fellowship of Academic Fellowship Program of Open Society Institute, New York, USA, she taught Public Relations and Arts Management courses in three state and private Armenian Universities: Eurasia International University, Yerevan State Conservatory and Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography. Simultaneously, she continued her teaching at Yerevan State Conservatory, repeatedly performed as soloist, accompanist, and in the staff of various ensembles in Armenia, Russian and Georgia. She led the workshops about piano music of Barber and Copland in Armenia.
Anna was often invited as the examinator/judge to different piano contests/festivals, including the entrance examinations and Piano Competitions at Yerevan Music Colleges, the “New names” Festival, and the piano competition named after G. Sarajian and A. Babajanian (famous Armenian pianists and pedagogues). Mrs. Vanesyan provided numerous master classes and presentations in Music Colleges and Music Schools in Yerevan and Armenian regions.
In 2005 Anna Vanesyan was awarded the nomination of “International Professional of the Year” by the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England.
From 2006 to 2009, Anna was completing her Doctoral program in Piano Performance at BSU School of Music with Piano Chamber Music/Accompanying as the secondary emphasis. She was studying with well-known music professors Dr. James Helton (piano performance) and Dr. Lory Rhoden (piano pedagogy), and working in the studio of a distinguished percussion professor Dr. E. Mueller, as an accompanist.
In the period of January-June of 2007, Anna performed more than 30 solo and collaborative recitals in Sursa, Choral and Pruis Performance Halls in Muncie, IN, USA. She was involved in regional and Indiana NATS competition, as well as BSU auditions for entrance and scholarships (graduate and undergraduate). As the assistant of professor at BSU, Anna was teaching group piano classes and private piano to graduate and undergraduate students, as well as to beginners - elementary school students and adults.
During her studies in the US, she was regularly invited to the BSU School of Music to perform at festivals, accompany doctoral and graduate recitals, adjudicate various competitions and auditions. She was honored to perform a world premier of a piano reduction of Flute Concerto written by American composer Don Freund at the Festival of New music, organized at BSU in March 2004. In 2004 her article, “How Armenia sounds in the State of Indiana” about BSU School of Music, was published in “Scholars Forum” (the Journal of Open Society Institute). Anna was also invited to perform at the welcoming ceremony of Betsy Rogers, 2003 National Teacher of the Year.
After being back to Armenia in 2004, she was appointed as an Executive Director of American Graduates Association of Armenia, public organization with 105 members, all of whom hold graduate or higher degrees from the US top educational institutions.
Being granted the teaching fellowship of Academic Fellowship Program of Open Society Institute, New York, USA, she taught Public Relations and Arts Management courses in three state and private Armenian Universities: Eurasia International University, Yerevan State Conservatory and Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography. Simultaneously, she continued her teaching at Yerevan State Conservatory, repeatedly performed as soloist, accompanist, and in the staff of various ensembles in Armenia, Russian and Georgia. She led the workshops about piano music of Barber and Copland in Armenia.
Anna was often invited as the examinator/judge to different piano contests/festivals, including the entrance examinations and Piano Competitions at Yerevan Music Colleges, the “New names” Festival, and the piano competition named after G. Sarajian and A. Babajanian (famous Armenian pianists and pedagogues). Mrs. Vanesyan provided numerous master classes and presentations in Music Colleges and Music Schools in Yerevan and Armenian regions.
In 2005 Anna Vanesyan was awarded the nomination of “International Professional of the Year” by the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England.
From 2006 to 2009, Anna was completing her Doctoral program in Piano Performance at BSU School of Music with Piano Chamber Music/Accompanying as the secondary emphasis. She was studying with well-known music professors Dr. James Helton (piano performance) and Dr. Lory Rhoden (piano pedagogy), and working in the studio of a distinguished percussion professor Dr. E. Mueller, as an accompanist.
In the period of January-June of 2007, Anna performed more than 30 solo and collaborative recitals in Sursa, Choral and Pruis Performance Halls in Muncie, IN, USA. She was involved in regional and Indiana NATS competition, as well as BSU auditions for entrance and scholarships (graduate and undergraduate). As the assistant of professor at BSU, Anna was teaching group piano classes and private piano to graduate and undergraduate students, as well as to beginners - elementary school students and adults.
The latest in Anna’s career was the concert dedicated to the music of Armenian famous composer Alexander Arutunian, where she performed the composer’s piano solo and chamber music pieces in collaboration with BSU professors J. Helton, E. Mueller, S. Rice and M. Hagopian. Professional CD and DVD were recorded during this concert.
During the last five years, Anna completed extensive work as the literature editor of many publications about distinguished Armenian musicians. As of now, four publications — three monographs and one book, were published.
Currently, Anna Vanesyan is an affiliate at the Young Artists Performance Academy at the Glenn Gould School (The Royal Conservatory of Music) and running a very busy Music Academy in Toronto (Arts & MusiCom).
During the last five years, Anna completed extensive work as the literature editor of many publications about distinguished Armenian musicians. As of now, four publications — three monographs and one book, were published.
Currently, Anna Vanesyan is an affiliate at the Young Artists Performance Academy at the Glenn Gould School (The Royal Conservatory of Music) and running a very busy Music Academy in Toronto (Arts & MusiCom).
