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Khachatryan and Aloni Play Chopin and Schumann
Friday, February 16 @ 8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Guest Concert
Grigor Khachatryan, piano
Dina Neglia-Khachatryan, violin
With Pamela Highbaugh Aloni, cello
Experience an unforgettable evening of classical mastery featuring three virtuosos in one extraordinary concert! The program will include Chopin’s Cello Sonata and Piano Sonata in B-flat minor as well as Schumann’s Violin Sonata.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Dr. Grigor Khachatryan is recognized worldwide as one of the most preeminent pianists of his generation. His newly-released CD set with Albany Records titled “Spirit of Freedom”, featuring his own two large-scale virtuosic piano sonatas, has garnered instant rave reviews from numerous internationally reputable music critics and has earned the CD the cover spot of Fanfare magazine. Born in Yerevan, Armenia, Dr. Khachatryan began his musical studies at Barsej Kanachyan’s Music School of Yerevan. Shortly thereafter, Khachatryan moved to the United States and continued his musical development at the esteemed Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University under the tutelage of distinguished professor of piano, Luba Edlina-Dubinsky, where he earned his Bachelor, Master and Performer Diploma degrees. In addition, Khachatryan holds a doctorate degree in Piano Performance, Composition, and Music Theory from the Jacobs School of Music where he also served as Junior Faculty of Piano during his graduate studies. Khachatryan’s repertoire is populated with the brightest gems of the concert piano repertoire spanning from the Baroque to the Modern eras. Khachatryan made his debut in Carnegie Hall with a special invitation from the Armenian General Benevolent Union of New York City. Recent concert tours include a national appearance with the Concordia Orchestra performing Rachmaninoff’s 3rd Piano Concerto and an international tour as a soloist in Shanghai, China. The Associate Professor of Piano at Concordia College, Khachatryan also serves as the Chair of the Keyboard Area and the director of the annual Concordia Piano Festival. Although he is a sought-after concert artist, Khachatryan is equally devoted to teaching and has traveled extensively as a clinician and lecturer.
Violinist Dr. Dina Maria Neglia-Khachatryan enjoys a multifaceted musical career. Dedicated equally to teaching, scholarship, and performance, Dr. Neglia-Khachatryan has served as part of the select appointed junior faculty at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music as an Associate Instructor in Music Theory, as Lecturer of Strings at Vincennes University (IN) where she served to develop their string program, and as Lecturer of Upper Strings at North Dakota State University. As a performer, Dr. Neglia-Khachatryan finds it important to be immersed in a variety of musical mediums. She has been featured on MPR Classical Radio in collaboration with Ensemble Mélange and has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States and Europe. Dr. Neglia-Khachatryan regularly performs around the country with Armenian pianist and husband, Dr. Grigor Khachatryan, as a member of Duo Neglia-Khachatryan. As a soloist and chamber musician, Dr. Neglia-Khachatryan has had the honour to perform for Josef Gingold, Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, Midori, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Jorja Fleezanis, Menahem Pressler, The Borromeo String Quartet, The Cavani String Quartet, and The St. Lawrence String Quartet, among others. Other notable concerts include performances by invitation for Former President George W. Bush and Former Vice President Dick Cheney, and a special performance by invitation of the Sindaco di Enna for the region of Castrogiovanni, Sicily celebrating the life’s work of her great-uncle, renowned Sicilian composer, Francesco Paolo Neglia. Dr. Neglia-Khachatryan earned her Doctorate in Violin Performance at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, where she also obtained an academic minor in Music History and Literature. She received her graduate degree in Violin Performance from The University of Michigan, and her undergraduate degree from Baylor University in Violin Performance along with concentrations in Vocal Performance and Italian Literature. Her principal teachers include Ms. Maria Neglia, Dr. Bruce Berg, Professor Yehonatan Berick, and Professor Kevork Mardirossian.
Praised for her “meltingly beautiful solos” (The Detroit News) and performances of “depth and insight” (Times Colonist), Pamela Highbaugh Aloni performs regularly as a recitalist and chamber musician and is an Associate Professor at UVic where she teaches cello, chamber music and string pedagogy. A founding member of the prize-winning Lafayette String Quartet, she and her colleagues celebrated 37 years of musical life together before taking their final bow in August 2023. Highlights with the LSQ included performing all sixteen Beethoven string quartets, a 30th anniversary Shostakovich Cycle, a Second Viennese School project, the commissioning of five new quartets by women composers, and the initiation of the Lafayette Health Awareness Forum. Ms. Highbaugh Aloni coaches the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra cello section, and at the Sooke Chamber Music workshop. She has performed with the Vetta Ensemble of Vancouver, Victoria Chamber Orchestra, Victoria Summer Festival, Sooke Philharmonic, Eine Kleine Summer Music, Chamber Music San Juan, and was principal cellist with the Galiano Ensemble. Pamela plays on a George Craske cello made in 1850.