cello

Alexander Chaushian

Alexander Chaushian –whose playing is described as “searingly eloquent” (The Strad) and “profoundly expressive” (The Telegraph) –is a cellist lauded with the highest critical acclaim wherever he performs. His interpretations of the major works of the cello literature have been described as “standing alongside those by the greatest” (BBC Music Magazine), and “wonderfully poised and ruminative magisterial explorations” (The Independent).Following initial studies at the Yehudi Menuhin School, Chaushian went on to study at London’s Guildhall School of Music & Drama, and the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler, Berlin. He holds top prizes from such major competitions as the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow (2002), and the ARD Competition in Germany (2005).

A devoted chamber musician, Chaushian is the Founder & Artistic Director of two major international festivals: the International Pharos Chamber Music Festival in Cyprus, Greece, and the Yerevan Music Festival in his hometown of Yerevan, Armenia. These festivals attract many of the top names in classical music, and are streamed on Medici.tv.

Amongst Chaushian’s regular chamber music collaborators are such esteemed figures as Yuri Bashmet, Boris Brovtsyn, Levon Chilingirian, Julia Fischer, François-Frédéric Guy, Daishin Kashimoto, Freddy Kempf, Vadym Kholodenko, Emmanuel Pahud, Dietmut Poppen, and Yuja Wang. He also collaborated with the late Yehudi Menuhin. In addition to this, Chaushian is a member of the international renowned Tchaikovsky Trio –with Pavel Vernikov(violin)and Konstantin Bogino(piano)–who tour frequently, particularly to Asia.

Chaushian has two principle sonata partners with whom he performs regularly: the globally celebrated Armenian pianist Sergei Babayan, and the internationally acclaimed Russian pianist Yevgeny Sudbin. The Chaushian/Sudbin duo have made several critically acclaimed recordings for the BIS label, including sonatas by Borodin, Rachmaninov, Shostakovich, and Weinberg.Chaushian’s recital and chamber music work has taken him to such major stages as Berlin Philharmonie, Boston Symphony Hall, Carnegie Hall, Sala Verdi Milano, Suntory Hall Tokyo, Théatre de la Ville Paris, Vienna Konzerthaus, and the Wigmore Hall. He is a frequent performer at major international festivals across Europe, Asia, and North America–with recent highlights including Yeol-Eum Son’s PyeongChang Festival in Alpensia, South Korea, and Daishin Kashimoto’s Le Pont Festival in Tokyo, Japan.

Recent and forthcoming concerto appearances include engagements with the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Mexico State Symphony, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Vienna Chamber Orchestra. Thecelebrated French-Armenian composer Michel Petrossian composed a Cello Concerto for Chaushian, the world premiere of which took place in September 2018 with the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra at the Yerevan Music Festival.

Music education remains of the utmost importance to Chaushian, who believes in giving back to the musical community as much as possible. He is a Professor in Cello at the Royal College of Music, London,and is in high demand as a masterclass teacher across Europe and Asia. He is also a founding member of the faculty of the classical music education & technology platform DakApp(www.dakapp.com)