Abril Books & UCLA Armenian Music Program present
A Musical Recital and Book Presentation
On occasion of the newly released book:
Arno Babadjanian: An Armenian Beat in Soviet Time
with Author & Violinist NUNÉ MELIK
Introduced by Melissa Bilal.
Performance will include pieces by A. Babadjanian, A. Khachaturian, Komitas, and a world-premiere.
Piano accompaniment by Harout Senekeremian.
WENDESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2025 – 7:00pm
LARK MUSICAL SOCIETY
543 Arden Ave
Glendale, CA 91203
Admission is Free. For questions, call (818) 243-4112
Arno Babadjanian, born in 1921 in Yerevan, is celebrated as one of the most influential musical figures of the Soviet Union. Despite the constraints of composing within the Soviet musical landscape, Babadjanian’s works are deeply infused with a distinctively Armenian spirit, making his compositions resonate with a unique cultural essence. Though he is well-known in Russia and the former Soviet republics, Babadjanian’s music remains relatively unknown in the Western world. This book marks the first comprehensive English-language study of this remarkable composer, aiming to introduce his genius to a broader audience.Dr. Nune Melikian is an acclaimed violinist, scholar, educator. Born to a family of medical scientists, she was the youngest student ever accepted to the Master’s program at the University of Montreal. The first Armenian female violinist to debut at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium up to date, she equally pioneers in the scholarly field. I ler dissertation at McGill University became the first comprehensive study of Arno Babadjanian in English. In 2010, she founded the Hidden Treasure Project to research the music of the Caucasus and later co-founded the Hidden Treasure Music Festival in New York. Through her diverse roles, Dr. Melikian aims to expand classical music’s boundaries to deepen our understanding of culture and identity.
Harout Senekeremian entered the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, studying piano with Alvin Chow. Upon graduation, Harout began his Masters program studying under Arkady Aranov at the Manhattan School of Music. Harout has taken a keen interest in non-traditional repertoire with a specialization in the solo piano music of French composer Charles-Valentin Alkan, playing in concert all of the composers major works. He is also an eager participant in the performance of new music. Senekeremian continues to concertize in both solo and chamber concerts in Southern California as well as maintaining an active piano studio.
Co-sponsored by UCLA Armenian Music Program as a part of community outreach event series.