Draft:Sergey Smbatyan

Sergey Smbatyan (born 23 September 1987) is an Armenian conductor. He is the Founding Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, Principal Conductor of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, Principal Guest Conductor of the Berlin Symphony Orchestra and the Artistic Director of the Khachaturian International Competition. He engages in international performances and is dedicated to revitalizing classical music audiences while promoting contemporary classical music on a global scale.

Early life and academic background
Sergey Smbatyan was born into a family with a strong musical heritage in Yerevan. His early exposure to music came through violin lessons taught by his grandmother, Tatyana Hayrapetyan, herself a notable violin teacher. Smbatyan's formal training began at the Central Music School in Moscow before his family returned to Armenia, where he continued his education at the Tchaikovsky Music School in Yerevan.

At the age of fifteen, Smbatyan enrolled at the Komitas State Conservatory in Yerevan, focusing on violin studies under Professor Bagrad Vardanyan. It was during this time that he also developed an interest in conducting, studying under the tutelage of the esteemed teacher and conductor Yuri Davtyan. Smbatyan furthered his musical education through courses in Vienna and Zurich with Zakhar Bron, a renowned violinist and teacher. At just eighteen years old, Smbatyan founded what is now known as the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, a venture he continues to lead as Artistic Director and Principal Conductor. He completed his Master's degrees in Violin and Operatic and Symphonic Conducting in 2007 and 2008 respectively, followed by a PhD in Fine Arts from the Institute of Arts of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences. Additionally, he pursued further violin studies at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory under Professor Sergey Kravchenko.

In 2010, Smbatyan relocated to London to pursue studies at the Royal Academy of Music, where he had the opportunity to learn from Sir Colin Davis.

His understanding of conducting was significantly enriched through mentorship under Riccardo Muti and Valery Gergiev. In recognition of his achievements, he was granted the title of Associate Professor by his alma mater, the Komitas State Conservatory, in 2018.

Conducting career
In 2005, while studying in Yerevan, Sergey Smbatyan founded the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, where he has served as Artistic Director and Principal Conductor since its establishment. In 2019, he was appointed Principal Conductor of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra.

A significant early achievement in Smbatyan's conducting career was his debut performance with the Philharmonia Orchestra at Windsor Castle, as part of an event hosted by Prince Charles. This successful performance led to subsequent invitations, including conducting the same orchestra at Buckingham Palace. Under Smbatyan's direction, the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra has performed at prominent venues worldwide, such as the Konzerthaus in Berlin, Barbican Centre in London, Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Philharmonie Gasteig in Munich, Rudolfinium in Prague, and the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. Performances at Musikverein in Vienna and Berliner Philharmonie were particularly notable for gaining wider recognition for the orchestra. As Principal Conductor of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, Smbatyan has led numerous concert tours and performed at prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall in New York, Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, Gasteig in Munich, Musikverein in Vienna, and Berliner Philharmonie.

In addition to his roles in Armenia and Malta, Smbatyan has built an international conducting career with guest engagements including the London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Dresden Philharmonic, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, and Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, among others.

A highlight of the 2022-23 season was touring with the Romanian National Philharmonic Orchestra and violinist Maxim Vengerov in the United Kingdom, performing at venues such as Cadogan Hall in London, Usher Hall in Edinburgh, Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, and Royal Concert Hall in Nottingham. In 2023, he led the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra on a UK tour dedicated to Aram Khachaturian's 120th anniversary, revisiting venues including Cadogan Hall and others.

Smbatyan's international involvement as a conductor and his appreciation for contemporary classical music have led to collaborations with renowned composers such as Krzysztof Penderecki, Tigran Mansuryan, Arvo Pärt, and Gia Kancheli. Notable projects include collaborations with John Malkovich in Latin America and Asia in 2015 and 2016. In a unique performance in Yerevan, accompanied by the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, Malkovich delivered a reading of excerpts from "The Book of Lamentations" by medieval Armenian poet Grigor Narekatsi.

Festivals and other artistic endeavors
Sergey Smbatyan has been involved in various artistic endeavors, including the formation of several orchestras with distinct concepts. Among these initiatives are the "24/04" World Orchestra, which brought together 123 musicians from 43 countries for a performance promoting global peace; the "Generation of Independence" All-Armenian Choir and Orchestra, consisting of 1144 Armenian musicians commemorating Armenia's 25th independence anniversary; the UNICEF Children's Chamber Orchestra, established for the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and the Pan-Armenian Symphony Orchestra, aimed at uniting Armenians worldwide.

As an artistic director, Smbatyan oversees various annual music festivals and competitions, including the Khachaturian International Competition, which introduced a conducting category at his initiative. Notable festivals founded by him include the Khachaturian International Festival, dedicated to promoting the legacy of Aram Khachaturian and other Armenian composers; the "Armenia" International Music Festival, featuring renowned musicians performing in Armenia; the Penderecki Contemporary Music Festival, showcasing works by contemporary composers; and the Armenian Composing Art Festival, promoting Armenian classical music heritage and emerging composers.

In 2019, Smbatyan established the "Music for Future" Cultural Foundation (M4FF) to support cultural education and innovation. Educational programs implemented with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra since 2018 have exposed over 30,000 students from more than 100 schools to classical music. In collaboration with UNICEF and the Public Television of Armenia in 2022, Smbatyan developed a parenting master class emphasizing the influence of music on children's development. Smbatyan prioritizes cultural inclusion by providing complimentary access to orchestra performances for vulnerable groups and organizing charity concerts, including projects targeting social inclusion of children with hearing difficulties launched in 2023. Advocating for innovation in classical music, Smbatyan collaborates with the IT community on various projects. At the WCIT 2019 opening ceremony, he conducted an international orchestra performing an AI real-time-composed musical piece, highlighting the potential synergy between traditional music and modern technology. Since 2023, Smbatyan has served as a UNICEF Armenia Ambassador.

Awards and recognition
In 2015, Sergey Smbatyan was honored as the youngest recipient and the first Armenian to be bestowed with the title of Chevalier of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the Minister of Culture and Communication of France. This recognition was attributed to his contributions to the formation of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra and his efforts in promoting Armenian music and culture. In 2016, Smbatyan received the title of Honoured Artist of the Republic of Armenia from the President of the Republic of Armenia, in acknowledgment of his significant achievements in the field of music.

Recordings

 * Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Hayrapetyan: Music is the answer (with Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, 2013)


 * Khachaturian: Adagio (with London Symphony Orchestra, 2020)
 * Contemporary Colours: New Music by Maltese Composers (with Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, 2020)
 * 15th Anniversary: Khachaturian Symphony No. 2 “The Bell Symphony” (with Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, 2021)
 * Borodin, Vassallo & Vella: Orchestral Works (with the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, 2022)
 * Ave Maria (with Joseph Calleja and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, 2023)