11 Facts About Alexander Arutiunian

In 1927, Alexander Arutiunian became a member of the Yerevan State Conservatory's children group, then, at age 14, he was admitted to the Conservatory to the studios of Olga Babasyan, and Sergei Barkhudaryan and Vardges Talyan.

Alexander Arutiunian graduated from the Music Conservatory of Yerevan on the eve of World War II.

Alexander Arutiunian was a member of the Board of the Union of Soviet Composers, as well as of the Armenian SSR Composers' Union.

In 1949, Alexander Arutiunian was awarded the Stalin Prize for his cantata Motherland, a graduation piece he wrote as a student at the Moscow Conservatory.

In 1949, Alexander Arutiunian composed the "Festive Overture" that was first performed in the Big Hall of the Leningrad Philharmonic in November 1949, with Yevgeny Mravinsky conducting.

Alexander Arutiunian continued to win acclaim at home and abroad for his works, many of which are quickened by the folk traditions of Armenian music.

In 1988, inspired by the Spitak earthquake, Alexander Arutiunian composed his Concerto for Violin and String Orchestra, Armenia-88.

Alexander Arutiunian originally intended to write it in 1943 for a student of Tabakov, Zsolak Vartasarian, who was the principal trumpet in the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra.

Alexander Arutiunian's extended family includes three granddaughters and a grandson.

Alexander Arutiunian died aged 91 in his home city of Yerevan.

Alexander Arutiunian is buried at the Komitas Pantheon which is located in the city center of Yerevan.