Suren Bagratuni - Cello

Winner of the Silver Medal at the 1986 Tchaikovsky Competition while still a student at the Moscow Conservatory, Suren Bagratuni has gone on to a distinguished international career as a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. In addition to performing throughout the former Soviet Union he has toured Europe, Asia, Australia, South America and the United States earning enthusiastic praise in both traditional and contemporary repertoire.

Born in Yerevan, Armenia, Suren Bagratuni began his musical education there at the age of seven. He continued his studies at the Moscow Conservatory, where he was tutored by professor Natalia Shakhovskaya. In the United States, Mr. Bagratuni was awarded the Artist Diploma of the New England Conservatory of Music under the direction of Professor Laurence Lesser.

Suren Bagratuni began performing at age ten, and by age fourteen appeared as a concerto soloist. He has performed with all the major orchestras in the former Soviet Union, including the Moscow Philharmonic (under the direction of Valery Gergiev). His numerous solo appearances have included recitals at the Phillips Collection in Washington D.C. and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York.

Mr. Bagratuni records for Ongaku label, Marco Polo, Russian Disc and CMH labels. Furthermore, he has recorded for Melodiya and has been featured on CBC Radio Canada, National Public Radio - USA, and WGBH Radio in Boston.

He is a member of the Moscow Conservatory Trio, Associate Professor/Artist Teacher of Cello at Michigan State University and Artistic Advisor of the St. Gallen International Chamber Music Festival in Switzerland.