История

Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory was founded in 1921, initially as a music studio, and subsequently,from 1923, became a full-fledged higher musical educational institution.

The founding rector of the Conservatory was the composer Romanos Melikyan (1883-1935).

During those years, Armenia was trying to get back on its feet after another round of pivotal historical events,culminating in the loss of its newfound independence and the Sovietization of the country. The dream of the great Komitas Vardapet to have a music academy, a conservatory, was destined to become a reality under severe socio-economic conditions for the country. Years later, in 1946, the higher musical institution was awarded his name—the name of the great Armenian classic.

By this time, the Armenian school of composition was already formed. Starting from the second half of the 19th century, in Eastern and Western Armenia, step by step, through their multifaceted activities, Armenian compositional traditions were established and developed by Tigran Chukhajian, Kristapor Kara-Murza,Makar Yekmalyan, Nikoghayos Tigranyan, and Komitas, who synthesized and crystallized their achievements. The development of compositional and performing arts was carried out through the joint efforts of local and invited specialists.

The very first years of the university's history were already filled with significant events. Thus, in 1924, the Conservatory's Symphony Orchestra was founded, and in 1925, the first symphony concert took place under the direction of Arshak Adamyan.

From that same year, 1924, the development of quartet art began. Alongside academic musical art, folk-professional music was also developing. Conservatory musicians gave concert performances on stages not only in Armenia and the countries of the USSR, but also in Europe.

The year 1927 was marked in the history of the Conservatory by the founding of the Opera Class. Its head was the director Arshak Burjalyan. In 1935, the renowned conductor and founder of the conducting class at the Moscow Conservatory, Konstantin Saradzhev, moved to Yerevan. He played a tremendous role in the history of the Conservatory, both as a long-serving rector and as an incomparable artist and pedagogue.

In 1929, concerts by Conservatory students took place in Tiflis. During these years, Armenian intellectuals scattered around the world were also invited to Armenia. In various branches of science and art, they brought their contribution to the development of the homeland. The faculty of the Conservatory was continuously replenished with invited specialists. These were years of a new beginning and, at the same time, a steady rise for both the Conservatory and Armenian musical culture in general.

In the early 1930s, the Conservatory had already produced its first graduates. In 1933, graduates of the Conservatory performed in the first ensembles of the newly established Opera Theatre of Armenia.

In 1934, the Conservatory expanded in yet another direction, laying the foundation for research activities. The Composition and Musicology Department was established.

A grand showcase and a unique "milestone" of this process of establishing the professional musical institution was the Ten-Day Festival of Armenian Music in Moscow in 1939. Here, Armenian music shone across various genres, directions, and, of course, high musical performance art.

The history of Armenian musical art is inextricably linked with the history of the Conservatory. In the 1930s, at the Conservatory, five youths began studying in the class of Vardges Talyan and Sargis Barkhudaryan, who would later emerge with their own distinct style, while simultaneously building upon the life-affirming music of Aram Khachaturian and the indispensable traditions of Komitas.

Filled with fundamental professional knowledge and high artistry, the Armenian Mighty Handful (Armenian Five)—Alexander Arutiunian, Ghazaros Saryan, Arno Babajanyan, Edvard Mirzoyan, and Adam Khudoyan—were to lead Armenian musical art, and their alma mater in particular, to a new ascent.

Ghazaros Saryan headed the Conservatory for about a quarter of a century, from 1960 to 1986.

During these years, a number of departments were formed, including chamber music and wind instruments. In 1966, the organ class opened under the leadership of Vahagn Stamboltsyan.

In 1960, the first Transcaucasian Performers' Competition took place, where about a dozen students of the Conservatory won prizes and diplomas. In this and numerous other competitions, the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory always participated with a representative lineup. Thus, the instrumental performing art of Armenia was graced by such talented musicians as pianists Willy Sargsyan, Vahe Aharonyan, Zemfira Barseghyan; violinists Willy Mokatsyan, Zareh Sahakyants, Poghos Marjikyan; cellists John Gevorgyan,Felix Hakobyan, and others.

Among the bright pages of the concert life of the 1970s–1980s were the activities of Svetlana Navasardyan,Anahit Nersisyan, Ruben Aharonyan, and others.

Alongside performing arts, musicology continued to develop. Special attention was given to the heritage of Komitas. In 1969, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Komitas, the Cabinet of Folk Musical Creation was founded, which later grew into a department.

With a deep knowledge of national music and academic musical art, and a talent for harmoniously blending the traditional and the innovative, starting from the 1960s, composers Edgar Hovhannisyan, Avet Terterian,Tigran Mansurian, and others emerged with a new voice in Armenian classical music.

Throughout his entire creative life, Aram Khachaturian stood beside the Conservatory and was with the Conservatory.

In 1973, the Conservatory celebrated its 50th anniversary. The most significant event on this occasion was the commissioning of the Conservatory's new building.

In 1981, on the initiative of Rector Ghazaros Saryan, the Opera Studio was opened, which now bears its founder's name.

From 1986 to 1991, the leadership of the Conservatory was assumed by composer Edgar Hovhannisyan. He was succeeded by Tigran Mansurian, who served as rector from 1992 to 1995.

During the tenure of Rector Armen Smbatyan (1995–2003), the Gyumri Branch of the Conservatory was opened in 1997.

In subsequent years, the Conservatory was headed by Sergey Sarajyan (2003–2011) and Shahen Shahinyan (2011–2018).

Currently, the rector of the Conservatory is Sona Hovhannisyan.