Pages from the History of Music Education in Armenia

Abstract

The article is dedicated to the issues of the history of professional music education in Armenia. The first major achievement in this field was the establishment of a music studio in Yerevan in 1921, which was transformed into the first conservatory in the history of Armenia in 1923. A musical educational institution was also established in Leninakan (now Gyumri), with the direct participation of the famous composer and public figure Daniel Ghazaryan Leninakan Music Studio was opened in 1924, which laid the foundation of a musical educational institution in the city. In a short time it turned into a 7-year professional music school and in 1933 the school was named after the outstanding composer N.F. Tigranyan. In the article, an attempt has been made to study the process of forming a music studio, the successes and achievements of the first decades. The activities of the school are presented in the context of the cultural life of the city of Leninakan. Among the first teachers of the studio were wonderful musicians N. Gyanjumyan, Ye. Ter-Ghukasyan, T. Nalbandyan, G. Kostanyan, V. Ghazaryan, S. Kirilenko, K. Papayan and others. From the 1920s-1940s the school was managed by the prominent figures of Armenian musical culture: Daniel Ghazaryan, Artemi Ayvazyan, Mushegh Aghayan, Minas Krishchyan, Felush Mkrtchyan, Vahan Umr-Shat. The school's effective work was evidenced by the success of its students, as highlighted in the article. Among these successful students were gifted musicians who went on to make significant contributions to the musical culture of Armenia. Additionally, the article includes touching memories shared by renowned musicians about their teachers. It is worth noting that the   created prerequisites years later led to the establishment of the Gyumri branch of Yerevan State Conservatory, named after Komitas, which is widely regarded as the highest level of music education in Armenia. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the  launch of the Gyumri branch.