Raffi Armenian: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Armenian-Canadian musician}}
{{for|the children's entertainer|Raffi (musician)}}
{{for|the children's entertainer|Raffi (musician)}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
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|caption =
|caption =
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1942|06|04}}
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1942|06|04}}
|birth_place = Cairo, Egypt
|birth_place = [[Cairo]], Egypt
|death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
|death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
|death_place =
|death_place =
|other_names =
|other_names =
|known_for =
|known_for =
|occupation = Conductor, pianist, composer, teacher,
|occupation = Conductor, pianist, composer, teacher
|nationality =
|nationality =
}}
}}
'''Raffi Armenian''', {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|CM}} (born June 4, 1942) is an [[Armenians|Armenian]]-[[Canadians|Canadian]] conductor, pianist, composer, and teacher. He directed the [[Kitchener–Waterloo Symphony]] orchestra for many years. Since 1999 he has been the director of Orchestral Studies at the [[University of Toronto]]. From 2008 to 2013 he was the director of the [[Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal]].
'''Raffi Armenian''', {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|CM}} (born June 4, 1942) is a [[Canadians|Canadian]] conductor, pianist, composer, and teacher. He directed the [[Kitchener–Waterloo Symphony]] orchestra for many years. Since 1999 he has been the director of Orchestral Studies at the [[University of Toronto]]. From 2008 to 2013 he was the director of the [[Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal]].


==Early life and education==
==Early life and education==
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Armenian emigrated to Canada in 1969 to become the assistant conductor of the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, located in [[City of Halifax|Halifax]], [[Nova Scotia]]. From 1971 to 1993, he was the Artistic Director and conductor of the [[Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony]].<ref name="Gillmor2009">{{cite book|author=Alan M. Gillmor|title=Eagle Minds: Selected Correspondence of Istvan Anhalt and George Rochberg (1961-2005)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5dHfAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA168|date=31 July 2009|publisher=Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press|isbn=978-1-55458-689-9|pages=131, 168}}</ref> Under Armenian's guidance, the K-W Symphony developed from an amateur ensemble in the mid-1970s to a professional orchestra.<ref>[https://www.therecord.com/whatson-story/6034274-kitchener-waterloo-symphony-marks-70-years-of-making-music/ "Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony marks 70 years of making music"]. ''Waterloo Region Record'', Oct 24, 2015 by Valerie Hill</ref>
Armenian emigrated to Canada in 1969 to become the assistant conductor of the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, located in [[City of Halifax|Halifax]], [[Nova Scotia]]. From 1971 to 1993, he was the Artistic Director and conductor of the [[Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony]].<ref name="Gillmor2009">{{cite book|author=Alan M. Gillmor|title=Eagle Minds: Selected Correspondence of Istvan Anhalt and George Rochberg (1961-2005)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5dHfAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA168|date=31 July 2009|publisher=Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press|isbn=978-1-55458-689-9|pages=131, 168}}</ref> Under Armenian's guidance, the K-W Symphony developed from an amateur ensemble in the mid-1970s to a professional orchestra.<ref>[https://www.therecord.com/whatson-story/6034274-kitchener-waterloo-symphony-marks-70-years-of-making-music/ "Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony marks 70 years of making music"]. ''Waterloo Region Record'', Oct 24, 2015 by Valerie Hill</ref>


Armenian acted as the musical director of the [[Stratford Festival]] from 1973 to 1976,<ref name="Bart-RiedstraRiedstra1999">{{cite book|author1=Carolynn Bart-Riedstra|author2=Lutzen H. Riedstra|title=Stratford: Its Heritage and Its Festival|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k5GuTfJbKYAC&pg=PA66|year=1999|publisher=James Lorimer &amp; Company|isbn=978-1-55028-634-2|page=66}}</ref> and founded the Stratford Festival Ensemble (later renamed the [[Canadian Chamber Ensemble]]) in 1974.
Armenian acted as the musical director of the [[Stratford Festival]] from 1973 to 1976,<ref name="Bart-RiedstraRiedstra1999">{{cite book|author1=Carolynn Bart-Riedstra|author2=Lutzen H. Riedstra|title=Stratford: Its Heritage and Its Festival|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k5GuTfJbKYAC&pg=PA66|year=1999|publisher=James Lorimer & Company|isbn=978-1-55028-634-2|page=66}}</ref> and founded the Stratford Festival Ensemble (later renamed the [[Canadian Chamber Ensemble]]) in 1974.


Armenian made guest-conducting appearances with the [[Orchestre Symphonique de Québec]] in 1974, the [[Toronto Symphony Orchestra]] and the [[National Arts Centre Orchestra]] in 1975, and conducted ''[[Wozzeck]]'' for the [[Canadian Opera Company]] in 1977.
Armenian made guest-conducting appearances with the [[Orchestre Symphonique de Québec]] in 1974, the [[Toronto Symphony Orchestra]] and the [[National Arts Centre Orchestra]] in 1975, and conducted ''[[Wozzeck]]'' for the [[Canadian Opera Company]] in 1977.
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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/en/article/raffi-armenian-emc/ Biography at the Canadian Encyclopedia]
*[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/raffi-armenian-emc Biography at the Canadian Encyclopedia]


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Armenian descent]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian conductors (music)]]
[[Category:People from Cairo]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian male musicians]]
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[[Category:Egyptian Armenians]]
[[Category:Canadian conductors (music)]]
[[Category:Canadian conductors (music)]]
[[Category:Canadian people of Armenian descent]]
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[[Category:Academic staff of the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal]]
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[[Category:Egyptian emigrants to Canada]]
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[[Category:Egyptian expatriates in Austria]]
[[Category:Egyptian expatriates in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Egyptian people of Armenian descent]]
[[Category:Male conductors (music)]]
[[Category:Male conductors (music)]]
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[[Category:Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal faculty]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of Canada]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of Canada]]
[[Category:Musicians from Cairo]]
[[Category:Musicians from Kitchener, Ontario]]
[[Category:Musicians from Kitchener, Ontario]]
[[Category:University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna alumni]]
[[Category:University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna alumni]]
[[Category:Armenian conductors (music)]]
⚫
[[Category:Egyptian emigrants to Canada]]
[[Category:21st-century conductors (music)]]

Latest revision as of 02:14, 30 April 2024

For the children's entertainer, see Raffi (musician).
Raffi Armenian
Born (1942-06-04) June 4, 1942 (age 81)
Cairo, Egypt
Occupation(s)Conductor, pianist, composer, teacher

Raffi Armenian, CM (born June 4, 1942) is a Canadian conductor, pianist, composer, and teacher. He directed the Kitchener–Waterloo Symphony orchestra for many years. Since 1999 he has been the director of Orchestral Studies at the University of Toronto. From 2008 to 2013 he was the director of the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal.

Early life and education[edit]

Armenian was born in Cairo and had his first music lessons there, moving in 1959 to Vienna to study piano with Bruno Seidlhofer. After graduating, he put his musical studies aside and attended the University of London from 1962 to 1965, where he majored in metallurgy. He returned to the Vienna Academy of Music and studied from 1965 to 1969. In 1968, Armenian was one of two finalists at the International Competition for Young Conductors in Besançon, France.

Career[edit]

Armenian emigrated to Canada in 1969 to become the assistant conductor of the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, located in Halifax, Nova Scotia. From 1971 to 1993, he was the Artistic Director and conductor of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.[1] Under Armenian's guidance, the K-W Symphony developed from an amateur ensemble in the mid-1970s to a professional orchestra.[2]

Armenian acted as the musical director of the Stratford Festival from 1973 to 1976,[3] and founded the Stratford Festival Ensemble (later renamed the Canadian Chamber Ensemble) in 1974.

Armenian made guest-conducting appearances with the Orchestre Symphonique de Québec in 1974, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the National Arts Centre Orchestra in 1975, and conducted Wozzeck for the Canadian Opera Company in 1977.

In 1986, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada. In 1999 he became the director of Orchestral Studies at the University of Toronto.

Armenian taught conducting at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal, where he directed its symphony orchestra for 30 years. He was the Conservatoire's director from 2008 until 2013.[4]

Selected recordings[edit]

  • Joyous light - Armenian sacred songs with Isabel Bayrakdarian, CBC.
  • Memories of Poland, 1995 with Janina Fialkowska and the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony[5]
  • Mahler Lieder, CBC Records. Singers Andreas Schmidt and Catherine Robbin, K-W Symphony.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Alan M. Gillmor (31 July 2009). Eagle Minds: Selected Correspondence of Istvan Anhalt and George Rochberg (1961-2005). Wilfrid Laurier Univ. Press. pp. 131, 168. ISBN 978-1-55458-689-9.
  2. ^ "Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony marks 70 years of making music". Waterloo Region Record, Oct 24, 2015 by Valerie Hill
  3. ^ Carolynn Bart-Riedstra; Lutzen H. Riedstra (1999). Stratford: Its Heritage and Its Festival. James Lorimer & Company. p. 66. ISBN 978-1-55028-634-2.
  4. ^ "Classical music: There is a Viennese tradition in Montreal". Arthur Kaptainis, Montreal Gazette, December 4, 2014
  5. ^ "Janina Fialkowska / Raffi Armenian Memories of Poland". AllMusic Review by Joseph Stevenson
  6. ^ "Mahler Lieder". Gramophone, reviewed May 1992

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Raffi_Armenian&oldid=1221461946"