Tigran Hekekyan is one of the famous figures of Armenian performing arts and culture, whose role in Armenian modern music is invaluable.
Hekekyan founded several choirs, is the director of the music school named after Sayat-Nova, professor of the Yerevan State Conservatory named after Komitas.
"It can be said that my entry into the field of culture was predetermined, because the family atmosphere, contacts and the value system under which I was formed as an individual was adopted by my parents. I had many interests, but there was one thing that was at the root of all my manifestations. from childhood I loved to be a leader, be it in yard games or in studies. I used to unite sports teams, organize games, and perhaps that characteristic directed me to group management," says Tigran Hekekyan.
He received his initial musical education at the Sayat-Nova Music School, then continued his studies as a band leader at the Romanos Melikyan Music School.
He graduated from the Yerevan State Conservatory and post-graduate studies with the same specialty, and since 1980 he has been lecturing at his alma mater. In the 1980s, he founded a number of choirs, among them the choir of the Music School named after Spendiaryan (1982-1988) and the choir of the Committee of Youth Organizations (1986-1988).
1984-2002 he is invited to lead the Armenian Radio and Television Chamber Choir, winner of international competitions, which was founded in 1929, had a rich biography and a good reputation in the Soviet Union, Europe and Japan.
"Public radio is a dear place for me, because the work with the chamber choir enriched not only my biography, but also the golden fund of the public radio's sound library with its full scope, content and work efficiency," continues the choirmaster.
Tigran Hekekyan worked at a time when public radio was equipped with many musical collectives: national music collectives, a symphony orchestra and a chamber choir. It allowed recording and performance of a vast amount of musical material, from national anthems to world music gems and works by contemporary composers.
One of the prominent proofs of this are the recordings that are played during the first part of our conversation by the Armenian Radio Chamber Choir under the direction of conductor Tigran Hekekyan.