Yervand Yerkanian (1951-); ARM   

Yervand Yerkanian was born in 1951 Guirmri, Armenia, and graduated from the Yerevan Komitas Conservatory - where he studied composition under Professors Grigor Yegiazaryan (composition) and Hakob Vartanyan (violin). In 1987, Yervand became the artistic director and conductor of Tagaran, an ensemble of ancient Armenian music. Since 1994, Yervand has lived and worked in Lebanon, where he is the director of several music ensembles - including the Gusan Chorus, the Hayastan Chamber Orchestra, the "Barsegh Kanachian" Musical College; the Hamazgain Cultural-Educational Society Ensemble of Violonists; and the Madrigal Early Music Ensemble. He is also the director of the Hamazkain Cultural Centera. Yervand's works - which 4 symphonies, an opera, several ballets, three concertos, and numerous chamber and choral works (including 350 arrangements of Armenian spiritual and national songs) - have been performed in the US, France, England, Switzerland, Hungary, Russia, Argentina, Lebanon, and elsewhere.