Suren Bagratuni

 
Winner of the Silver Medal at the 1986 International Tchaikovsky Competition while still a student at the Moscow Conservatory, Suren Bagratuni has gone to a distinguished international career as a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. In addition to performing throughout the former Soviet Union, he has toured world wide earning enthusiastic praise in both traditional and contemporary repertoire.
 
Born in Yerevan, Armenia, Mr. Bagratuni began his musical education there at the age of seven. After winning several national and international competitions he continued his studies at the Moscow Conservatory and later in the United States, at the New England Conservatory of Music.
 
Suren Bagratuni began performing at age ten, and by age fourteen appeared as a concerto soloist. Since winning numerous National and International competitions he has performed with major orchestras in the former Soviet Union, Europe, USA, South America and South Africa.
 
His solo appearances have included recitals worldwide – Moscow, Berlin, Munich, Paris, Geneva, New York, Boston, Seoul, Taipei, Sidney, Johannesburg, to name a few.
A Boston performance of the Shostakovich d minor Sonata prompted the Boston Globe to call it “one of the best performances of the year”. At Weill recital Hall in New York, he performed a suite for cello and piano by Ned Rorem (with the composer as pianist).
 
Chamber music appearances have included guest invitations with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Newport Music Festival, the “Russian Winter” festival in Moscow, the El Paso Pro Musica International festival, Bargemusic, international festivals in Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Brazil and Taiwan.
 
Suren Bagratuni won critical acclaim for his CD releases on the Ongaku, BGR, Marco Polo, Russian Disc, BGR, Cambria and CMH labels.
He has recorded for “Melodiya”, and has been featured on CBC Radio Canada, WNYC in New York, NPR, and NHK TV Japan.
 
In addition to his solo activities, Mr. Bagratuni is a member of the Trio Nobilis; Artistic director of Cello Plus music festival; Professor of cello at the Michigan State University and conducts master classes Worldwide.