Her origins

Varduhi was born in Armenia, the fatherland of Aznavourian and Khatchatourian.
The first one shortens his name to become one of the most praise singer in France !
The second one shortens his name in order to introduce in the United States a new kind of sport/show : Khatch wrestling. Eventually, convinced that his efforts would be useless, he relinquished his great idea to a brewer from Broadway, against a dish of bortsch. When back in his country, he devoted himself to music writing to forget about his great disappointment.

As a little girl, Varduhi dreamt of becoming Charles Aznavour. But Nature decided otherwise ... Now, she contents herself to hum his songs in the shower ( or in the bath tube) and to vow her undying admiration to him.
Concerning Khatchatourian, Varduhi plays his compositions with all the ardour, passion and the joy of finding with his notes the spirit and atmosphere of the country of her childhood.

And, NO, she will not shorten her own name : Varduhi YERITSYAN !

	Her family

Her father is a pianist, her mother is a pianist, her uncle is a pianist, her grand-father, less skilfull or clever with his hands is only a surgeon :
with such a pedigree, her future is ahead of her, she will be a dress-maker.
Unfortunately at the age of 16, she pricks her finger with a needle and sank into a deep sleep ..., oh well ... please forgive me, this is another story …
Let's go back :
her future is all mapped out, she will be a pianist.

Her childhood

Nobody knows exactly when she is born (let's not talk about it, it has no meaning whether she is 10 years too young to be taken seriously or 10 years too old to disclose it ...).
Her parents believe she will become a singer (a night singer) ... soon after she was born: such a voice ! Fortunately her father plays the piano for her at dinner and the child falls asleep with an extatic smile on her face ... at last something has worked out there, family speaking !
From the age of 5, the child jumps on the piano stool and starts practising.
One evening someone rings the bell : Horowitz. On a tour in her country, he hears something about the young genius. he listens to her, says nothing and leaves, totally determined to become a monk ( fortunately his agent manages to persuade him not to do so ... especially with a contract at Carnegie Hall for two more years !). Nobody dares say it's true or not, but for sure it does help buid an official biography.

	Her training

Of course no need to say that Varduhi is a very talented young pianist and she adores playing ; passion, pleasure and hard work, no wonder the final result :
Accepted to study at the famous Tchaikovski music school from the age of 7, she comes out of it at 16, with the best honour and congratulations from the jury. She then enters the superior conservatory of music of Erevan, where she stays for 3 years.

In 2002, out of the blue, she decides to come to France and study there, following as such the steps of her beloved star : Charles Aznavour. She enters the superior conservatory of music of Paris, in Brigitte Engerer masterclass.

You will not be surprised to learn that she succeeds and obtains her diploma in 2006. I hardly dare say the nice things that Brigitte said about her, but nevertheless, these are her words, and I am not exaggerating :

Of course during these parisian years she has also worked with the best teachers and musicians like Emmanuel Mercier, Denis Pascal, Ami Flammer ... Rostropovitch and so on.

Despite the fact that she is not fond of competitions and honours ( it shows her rebellious side : "I am not a Fair Animal", "Music before all" , "Art does not need Labels" or "What, to rehearse when Aznavour is on TV ! Certainly not !"), she has managed to collect some of them :
The Ile de france competition , The Pierre Lantier, Young Talents of Erevan,, and also she was awarded Laureate both of the Tarazzi foundation, and of the Nadia and Lili Boulanger ...
She has been named or promoted " Révélation classique 2007 " of Adami ... did'not I told you she has a great talent !!

During December 2007, to prove her good-willing « if I want, I can … », she wins the “Avant-Scènes" competition organized by the National Music Conservatory of Paris. As a prize for her and for us, she played, with the Conservatory Laureates Orchestra, the Khatchatourian concerto at the City of Music in Paris, a great unforgettable moment !

	Her Career

All the past years Varduhi has traveled extensively, both in Europe and further away to play in the most important concert halls and by doing so, gave everyone the pleasure of listening to her and discover her spirit, her sensibility and her real pleasure in playing the piano. There they are, among some others :
Mogador theater, Salle Cortot, Gulbenkian cultural center, Amsterdam Concertgebow, Den Haag theater in Holland, The Czech philarmonia of Prague, The Slovac philamornia of Bratilslava, the Sibelius Academia of Helsinki, the Estonian Theater of Tallin, the Lithanian philarmony of Vilnius, the Lettonian Philarmony, the Kronberg Academia in Germany ...

She has also taken part in many various festivals like :
Flâneries Musicales of Reims, Auvers-sur-Oise Festival, Pablo casals Festival of Prades, the Geldeser Zomer in Holland, the Enghien les Bains Festival, the Annecy summer- festival Academia, the Schostakovitch Festival, the Candle festival at Sainte Marie aux Mines, the Festival of La Roque d'Antéron and has participated in many comprehensive studies and concert music ensembles.

And now what ?

You have missed her at the Pablo Casal's, you did not go to the Annecy festival ... she surely would have enchanted you at La Roque d'Antéron, had you gone ?
Don't worry , you will certainly enjoy listening to her again and again, because she will not stop so soon, she likes Music too much and it's a mutual feeling ...

For her immediate projects , click on this link, and for her coming plans, I am more than happy to disclose that she is working

the Bach concertos for piano and orchestra.

And then eventually or at last, she may meet Charles Aznavour !

If you need a more "traditionnal" biography for programs, articles or presentations, you may download this document (RTF format) : Varduhi's biography

(Translated by my so kind friend Elizabeth Dambeza, thank's a lot !)