Biography

Dr. Tatev Amiryan is an Armenian-American award-winning composer and pianist. Her music has been performed in the United States, Armenia, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, England, Poland, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Japan by such renowned ensembles and performers as, German Chamber Philharmonic of Bremen (Germany), CMEA Central Coast Honors Orchestra (USA), Carpe Diem String Quartet (USA), Ensemble Oktoplus (Germany), Metropolitan Choral of Kansas City (USA), Juventas New Music Ensemble(USA), Playground Ensemble(USA), pianists Jeffrey Jacob (USA), Hayk Melikyan (Armenia), and thereminist Thorwald Jorgensen (Netherlands).

Amiryan has received such awards as the 1st Prize at the UMKC Conservatory Chamber Music Composition Competition, Metropolitan Chorale of Kansas City’s Composition Contest, Abundant Silence Composition Competition, International Alliance for Women in Music, Crossing Borders Music and Juventas New Music Ensemble Call for Scores, RMN Classical Call for Piano Works and the 2nd Prize at New Ariel Recordings Fifth Piano Composition Competition. She has been commissioned by such acclaimed organizations and performers as North German Radio NDR, New Ariel Recordings, Abundant Silence Music Publisher, American pianist Jeffrey Jacob and Armenian pianist, Honored Artist of Armenia Hayk Melikyan. In 2016, she released her first album of complete piano works “Ortus” performed by Hayk Melikyan.

Amiryan has presented lectures and lecture-recitals at a number of international conferences and festivals in the US and in UK, including Women in the Arts International Conference at University of Missouri-St. Louis, Women Composers Festival of Hartford, London International Piano Symposium, Hawaii International Conference on Arts and Humanities, USF New Music International Festival, and Hildegard Festival of Women in The Arts.

Amiryan holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan, Armenia and Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.  She is a member of the Union of Composers of the Republic of Armenia.

Shogher Jan (Շողեր ջան)

The inspiration behind Dr. Tatev Amiryan’s piece Shogher Jan (Շողեր ջան) was an original song by Armenian composer Komitas (Soghomon Soghomonian 1869-1935), who is considered the founder of the Armenian national school of music. Shogher is an Armenian female name which means “rays” or “shine.” “Shogher Jan” translates as “beloved Shogher.” In the original song a man expresses his longing for his lover Shogher, describes her beauty and compares her to the sun. The song conveys the image of Armenian women as glowing and graceful. Written specially for the Portland Youth Philharmonic, Amiryan’s piece aims to share Armenian music traditions with wider audiences.