vanes Arakelyan began his musical studies in Armenia, and later in Russia. He moved to the United States and pursued his studies in Southern California and earned a Bachelor of Music degree from USC, with intensive training in the class of, Professor Daniel Pollack.
Ovanes has had numerous performances throughout the United States and abroad, reaching concert stages, such as Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Khachaturian Grand Concert Hall, Henry Fonda Theatre, Ford Amphitheatre, California Palace of Legion of Honor, Florence Gould Theatre, among many others, playing solo and duet works with his sister, Gianeh Arakelyan. The duo was invited to perform at the 39th Gala Concert of the American Youth Symphony, at the esteemed Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in the Los Angeles Music Center, performing the "Carnival of the Animals" by C. Saint-Saens on two pianos with the AYS, directed by Maestro Alexander Treger.
Ovanes and Gianeh established the Academy of Classical Music & Art (ACMA) in Fresno, where they are both instructors. The Academy has been established for two years, and the students of the Academy participate in numerous recitals and events in Fresno. In 2004, the duo released a CD dedicated to the Centennial Anniversary of Aram Khachaturian. The CD has been broadcast on classical radio stations in Portland, Oregaon in 2004, and in Las Vegas, NV in 2005. They also released a CD entitled Carnival, in 2006, featuring classical piano duets by various composers.
Since 2009, Ovanes has been pursuing his graduate degree in piano performance from the Californa State University Fresno, in the class of Andreas Werz. He is now a full time instructor at the ACMA, as well as a full time graduate student at CSUF.
Ovanes Arakelyan CV
View Repertoire
Solo Repertoire:

Babajanian, Arno:
Armenian Rhapsody for 2 pianos
Cappriccio
Dance of Vagarshabat
Elegie


Bach, Johann Sebastian:
Toccata in D minor BWV 913
English Suite No. 3 in G minor BWV 808
Partita No. 2 in C minor BWV 826

Bach/F. Busoni transcriptions
Chorale Preludes: Ich Ruf Zu Dir, Herr Jesus Christ BWV 639 in F minor
Nun Komm der Heiden Heiland BWV 659 in G minor
Nun Freut Euch, Lieben Christen BWV 734 in G major


Beethoven, van Ludwig:
Piano concerto No 1 Op 15 in C major
32 Variations in C minor
Piano Sonata Op. 13 in C minor “Pathetique”
Piano Sonata Op 27 no. 2 in C-sharp minor “Moonlight”
Piano Sonata Op 31 no 2 in D minor “Tempest”
Piano Sonata Op 57 in F minor “Appasionnata”

Brahms, Johann:
Rhapsodies Op 79
Intermezzo Op 118 in A minor
Intermezzo Op 118 in A major

Chopin, Fryedrik:
Piano Sonata Op 35 in B-flat minor
Polonaise Op 53 in A-flat major
Polonaise Op posth. In B-flat minor
Nocturnes: Op 9 no. 1, Op 27 no.1, Op 32 no. 1, Op 48 no. 1, Op 55 no. 1
Etudes: Op 10, Op 25

Debussy, Claude:
Preludes: Book I: Voiles; Le Vent Dans la Plaine

Gerswin, George:
Rhapsody in Blue

Haydn, Joseph:
Sonata Hob. XVI:23 in F Major
Sonata Hob. XVI:27 in G Major

Khachaturian, I. Aram:
Masquerade Suite for piano
Sabre Dance for piano

Liszt, Franz:
Hungarian Rhapsody no. 2 in C-sharp minor
Nocturne No 2 in A flat major “Liebestraum”
Consolation No 3 in D flat major

Mozart, A. Wolfgang:
Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major K 467
Sonata in F major K. 189e
Sonata in A minor K. 300d

Prokofiev, Sergey:
Piano Sonata Op 83 No. 7 in B flat
Paino Sonata Op 28 No. 3 in A minor

Rachmaninoff, Sergey:
Preludes Op. 3 No. 2, Op 23 No. 5, Op 23 No. 7, Op 32 No. 4, Op 32 No. 5
Etude Tabelaux Op 33 No. 2, Op 33 No. 4, Op 33 No. 7

Saint Saens, Camille:
Carnival of the Animals for two pianos and Chamber Orchestra

Schumman, Robert:
Abegg Variations Op 1
Papillons Op. 2

Tchaikovsky, I. Peter:
Seasons (set of 12 pieces)
As a music educator it is my goal to nurture a genuine love for music among my students, and to provide a positive atmosphere where students can achieve and excel individually in the deep realm of performing and understanding music. As I guide and instruct my students, I give them freedom to realize their own individual potential and abilities.

Every student grasps information and ideas in their own distinct manner, and it is the instructor’s responsibility to understand the student’s capabilities, and plan the lessons accordingly when teaching private instruction. It is important to open the windows of the student’s mind, and have them realize their strength. Furthermore, through listening, patience, and practice, the student will then be able to find his or her hidden or concealed talents, and propel those talents closer and closer to perfection.

Prior to practicing, it is very important to have the student study the score. It is crucial to analyze the architecture, structure, harmony, rhythm and feel of the music before beginning to memorize any piece. In general, I advise my students to study various manuscripts, especially chamber, choral and orchestral scores, in order to better apprehend structural forms and orchestration, which will further aid them to recognize these elements in their piano pieces.

For group piano and class instruction, my approach is to teach as much about music as possible, including musical lines, emotional analyses, appreciation of music, and comparison and contrast of the same piece by various performers. For college students who are not music majors, it is important to help them understand music at a deeper perspective; to ask why they like or dislike a certain piece, or a song, and understand what makes them bob their head to the music, or what makes them close their ears. I expect them to give analytical reasons for the above-mentioned questions, by analyzing the rhythm, texture, timbre, tempo and even text where applicable, to classical and popular music.

Teaching has rooted my love for music even deeper, and the urge to pass down my passion for music to everyone who has an open mind for it: one of the greatest achievements any musician can ask for. I enjoy teaching and performing music. My passion for music grows more and more as I grow further and deeper into the unending realm of this art form through studying, teaching and performing.


Arno Babajanian: Elegy for piano



Chopin Sonata Op 35. (mov. I) Grave-Doppio Movimento



Beethoven Sonata Op 31 No 2 "Tempest" (mov. I)
Ovanes Arakelyan
oarakelyan@aol.com
(559) 472-6888