Kevork Mardirossian is James H. Rudy Professor of Violin at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he was appointed in 2008.
His first solo recital was at age 12, and his intensive concert career started when he won the gold medal and first prize at the Obretenov Violin Competition in Bulgaria in 1978, the Gold medal at Katya Popova International Music Festival in 1979, and ...
Kevork Mardirossian is James H. Rudy Professor of Violin at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he was appointed in 2008.
His first solo recital was at age 12, and his intensive concert career started when he won the gold medal and first prize at the Obretenov Violin Competition in Bulgaria in 1978, the Gold medal at Katya Popova International Music Festival in 1979, and several international chamber music competitions in 1985-86 with his duo partner, pianist Lee Phillips.
Mardirossian performed as concert soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician throughout Bulgaria, the former Soviet Union, and Eastern Europe before moving to Europe, where he developed an impressive solo career, with tours of England, Wales, Italy, France, and the United States, including debuts in London and Carnegie Hall in 1992. He has appeared as guest artist at international music festivals such as Manuel De Falla in Spain; Shanghai festival in China; in Cheltenham, England; European Cultural Months; International Chamber Music Festival in Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Czech Festival in Trento, Italy; and Sofia Musical Weeks, among others in France, Germany, Spain, Japan, China, and Korea.
His education and training are from the Dobrin Petkov Music School in Bulgaria, Bulgarian State Conservatory, Maison de la Culture in Brussels, and Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, where he was awarded the Concert Artist (Premier Prix) award.
Mardirossian's teachers and mentors were Elena Doikova, Anton H. Atanasov, Vladimir Avramov, Artur Grumiaux, Janos Starker, and Yfrah Neaman.
In 1980, he became the concertmaster of the Plovdiv Philharmonic until 1988, when he moved to the United States, where he was appointed artist-in-residence at the University of Central Arkansas. There he co-founded the Kapelle Trio with pianist Lee Phillips and cellist Felice Farrell as well as the Heber Springs Chamber Music Festival and master courses in 1998. From 1995 to 2008, he was violin professor and chair of the String Department at the College of Music and Drama at Louisiana State University (LSU).
Mardirossian has established himself as a highly respected violin pedagogue and devoted mentor to more than 100 outstanding students, many of them winners in numerous national and international competitions. Others can be found in the world’s leading orchestras as concertmasters and principals, and as teachers in universities in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
Mardirossian is a British Council scholar and recipient of the Indiana University James H. Rudy faculty award, LSU Distinguished Faculty Award, and LSU School of Music Award for Excellence in Teaching, as well as the Galante Professorship and the San Diego II Alumni Professorship of Honor.
He is on the jury of several international violin competitions, such as the Henrik Szheryng International Violin competition in Mexico, Vladigerov International Competition in Bulgaria, Beethoven Violin Competition in the Czech Republic, and Shanghai International Violin Competition, among others.
He has served on the faculties of the International Institute at Round Top, Texas (2001-08); Aria String Academy in Massachusetts; Aurora Chamber Music festival in Sweden; Manuel De Falla International Courses in Granada, Spain; String Academy in Pontedeume, Spain; and international master courses at the Shanghai Conservatory. He presents regular master classes in Europe, Asia, South America, and the United States in many major schools and universities.
Intensive workshops, optimal conditions and great concerts distinguish the International Violin Academy.
