SOFYA MELIKYAN
     

  Born in Yerevan, Armenia, Sofya Melikyan began her musical training at the age of five at the Tchaikovsky Specialized Music School of Yerevan, studying piano with Anahit Shahbazyan. In 1994, Ms. Melikyan moved to Spain, where she continued her studies at the Royal Conservatory of Madrid, under the tutelage of pianist Joaquin Soriano. Upon graduating with Highest Honor Prize in 1999, she worked with Galina Egiazarova in Madrid, and Brigitte Engerer in Paris.

In 2001 she began post-graduate studies in Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris Alfred Cortot under the guidance of pianist Ramzi Yassa, where she unanimously received the Diplome Superieure d'Execution in 2003. Currently living in New York, Ms. Melikyan has recently completed her Master of Music degree in piano performance at Manhattan School of Music of New York, where she was a scholarship student of Solomon Mikowsky. Ms. Melikyan has actively participated in Master Classes with such musicians as Vitali Margulis, John O'Connor, Fanny Solter, Francois-Rene Duchable, Piotr Paleczny, Menahem Pressler and Horacio Gutierrez.

Sofya Melikyan has been awarded First Prize and a Prize for outstanding Music Talent at the Marisa Montiel International Piano Competition in Linares, First Prize at the Ibiza International Piano Competition in Spain, First Prize for Music Interpretation awarded by “Amigos del Colegio de Espana” Association in Paris. She has also received top and special prizes at the 15th Jose Iturbi and 52nd Maria Canals International Competitions in Spain. To date, Ms. Melikyan toured throughout Spain, Germany, France, Russia, Armenia, Italy, Serbia and U.S. She appeared as a soloist with the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra of Spain, Cordoba Symphony Orchestra, National Youth Orchestra of Spain, Valencia Symphony Orchestra, New Europe Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra of Andalucía, among others.

Ms. Melikyan’s Festival appearances include solo recitals, chamber music and concerti performances at prestigious Domenico Scarlatti, Valladolid, Canary Islands, Ibiza International Festivals in Spain, BEMUS International Music Festival in Belgrade, as well as Creil Festival in France. Recent performance activities include a debut recital at Carnegie’s Weill Hall in New York, concerts in “Palau de Valencia” in Spain, “Salle Cortot” in Paris, “la Caixa Forum” and live broadcast on National Radio of Catalonia in Barcelona, appearance at the Dame Myra Hess Series and live broadcast on WFMT in Chicago, three concerts as a soloist and in ensemble at the First Armenian Music Festival in Juan March Foundation’s Concert Hall in Madrid.

An avid chamber musician she has been mentored by Daniel Epstein at the Manhattan School of Music, performing to much critical acclaim with various ensembles in Europe and U.S., including Silvestri ensemble and regularly performing with musicians of Radio and Television Orchestra of Spain. In 2005 her piano duo was a winner of Lillian Fuchs Chamber Music Competition at Manhattan School of Music. She has made many live recordings for Radio and Television broadcasts in Europe and U.S. To name a few: National Radio and Television of Spain, National Radio and Television of Armenia, Chicago WFMT Radio station, Muzzik French Television Station, among others. Ms. Melikyan has also released two CDs featuring the music of Haydn, Schumann, Rachmaninoff, Albeniz, Dutilleux and Khachaturian.

She has recently performed with Radio and Television Orchestra of Spain (Saint-Saens-Concerto No 2), Jonde Orchestra of Spain (Brahms-Concerto No 1), and future engagements include concerts with the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, recitals in Juan-March Foundation in Madrid, “Conde Duque” Cultural Center in Madrid, Festival Las Canals in France, Philharmonic Hall in Armenia, Dweck Center in NY, among others.

www.sofyamelikyan.com