"Dedication to A. Khachaturian"

Khachaturian Trio (Armenia)

As part of:

Armine Grigoryan (piano)

Karen Shahgaldyan (violin)

Karen Kocharyan (cello)

With the participation of the Laureate of international competitions Maxim Novikov (viola)

The Khachaturian Trio was created as the Arsika Trio in 1999. The ensemble has toured in the USA, Switzerland, Central and South America, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Austria, Japan, Australia, China, Spain, Malta, Lithuania, Latvia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Russia, Moldova, Georgia and Armenia. The musicians performed in such halls as Musikverein in Vienna, Laiezhalle in Hamburg, Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Gasteig-Philharmonie in Munich, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Koerner Hall in Toronto. Participated in such festivals as "Schubertiade" in Lausanne, "Festival de las Artes" in Costa Rica, "Festival International Cervantino" in Mexico. "Russiche Kammermusikfest" in Hamburg, an international music festival in Malta. The trio's performances were repeatedly broadcast on radio and television.

The ensemble has recorded nine discs dedicated to Armenian and Russian music, in particular a disc with music by Aram Khachaturian and Maltese composer Alexey Shor, released by Sony, a double disc with chamber music by Aram Khachaturian, a monographic disc by Alexander Harutyunyan, a trio of Tchaikovsky, Arensky (D minor), Babajanyan, Shostakovich (E minor), discs with masterpieces of Armenian classical music, as well as a disc with modern Armenian trios (Ajemyan, Babayan, Chaushyan).

Music criticism notes the virtuoso performance, true musicality and sense of style of the ensemble. Since 2006, he has been performing in the current line-up: Armine Grigoryan - piano, Karen Shahgaldyan - violin, Karen Kocharyan - cello. The ensemble conducts extensive educational activities in Armenia, performing not only in the capital, but also in the regions, conducts master classes with schoolchildren and students. The trio has been actively performing, playing an average of 70 concerts per season for the last few years.

In 2008, the ensemble was renamed the trio named after the outstanding Armenian composer Aram Ilyich Khachaturian.

In 2010, the musicians, together with one of Aram Khachaturian's close friends, philanthropist Asatur Guzelian, founded the Foundation for the Development of Classical Music, within which they continued their educational and charitable activities in the country.

In 2013, on the occasion of Aram Khachaturian's 110th birthday, the musicians implemented a large-scale project, which was continued in subsequent years: in various cities of Russia (Nizhny Novgorod, Vladimir, Krasnodar, Murmansk), as well as in Yerevan (with the State Youth Symphony Orchestra, conductor Sergey Smbatyan), three performances were performed in one evening Aram Khachaturian 's concert: violin, piano and Concerto-rhapsody for cello. Another ambitious project of the jubilee year was the performance of all Khachaturian's solo sonatas (for piano, violin, cello and viola, violist - Maxim Novikov) in the composer's House-Museum in Yerevan. 

The repertoire for the ensemble is Beethoven's Triple Concerto (performed in Yaroslavl, Chelyabinsk, Yerevan).

The trio's special projects, which are regularly implemented in Armenia, are very popular: monographic concerts dedicated to the anniversaries of outstanding composers of the past and present (Brahms, Bach, Debussy, Dvorak, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Eduard Mirzoyan, Alexander Harutyunyan, Karen Khachaturian, Avet Terteryan, Georgs Pelecis). In 2013, on June 1, for the Children's Day, a concert was held at which the works of great composers that they wrote as children (Mozart, Mendelssohn, Rossini, Schubert) were performed. A concert called "Music of the City" was a great success, combining music and architecture. The program featured works by Armenian composers of the 20s, 50s, 70s and 2000s of the 20th century, while archival footage of Yerevan at that time was shown on the screen.

The trio works closely with contemporary composers, the ensemble has several premieres of new compositions, some works were dedicated directly to this musical group.

An important part of the ensemble's life is the connection with the Aram Khachaturian House-Museum in Yerevan, which can be called the creative laboratory of musicians. The trio's CDs were recorded here, concerts are regularly held and educational projects initiated by the musicians of the ensemble are implemented.