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07:00 PM » Piano recital by Raphael Minaskanian

Raphael Minaskanian first San Jose appearance after his successful San Francisco debut on
March 25th. Minaskanian will be presented by GCSF(Gifted Children Scholarship Fund). Please join the concert and enjoy the beautiful performance of Bartok,Chopin and Beethoven as well as Malek Aslanian's complex contemporary Iranian compositions revived by Minaskanian.

When: Saturday April 7th, 8:00 PM

Where: Le Petit Trianon Theatre
72 North Fifth Street (between E. St. John St & E. Santa Clara St.)
San Jose,CA 95112 MAP

Join us for a pre-concert reception from 6:00-7:30pm
For more information, please contact 408-393-7843 or 650-468-7410

Raphael Minaskanian was born in Tehran in a music loving family and began his musical studies at the age of six. He made his first stage appearance at the age of ten and shortly after, he performed Iran’s first televised classical piano recital. He studied under the distinguished teacher and composer Emanuel Melik-Aslanian, honing his technical skills, and making frequent stage and television appearances. Upon graduation from high school, he came to the United States with the goal of studying medicine, but it was Aube Tzerko, Professor of music at UCLA who, recognizing his talent, encouraged him to devote himself to music. Thereafter, he studied with internationally known master teachers including Aube Tzerko in Los Angeles, Karl Ulrich Schnabel in Italy, and Ilona Kabos in London and at the Juilliard School of Music in New York.

Mr. Minaskanian’s London debut in the Purcell Room of Royal Festival Hall won him the acclaim of critics including that of the famed Eric Warr, who described the performance as a “most promising debut”, and his artistic ability and technique as “mature” and filled with “excitement”, “brilliance” and “unfailing clarity”. Upon returning to Iran, Raphael was invited by the renowned Soviet Armenian composer and pianist Arno Babajanian, to share the stage with him, in a most memorable musical event, for the very first public performance of his Rhapsody for Two Pianos, in Tehran. Over the past two decades, Raphael has continued to teach and perform, making frequent solo, chamber and orchestral appearances. On the occasion of Aram Khachaturian’s 100th birthday festivities, he was a soloist in several events with the Armenian String Virtuosi under the internationally recognized conductor Loris Tjeknavorian. In addition to his busy stage and teaching schedule, Raphael is involved with community work, and regularly shares his art to help raise funds for humanitarian and educational causes. He recently honored the memory of his beloved teacher and mentor, E. Melik-Aslanian, with two critically acclaimed solo recitals, benefiting geriatric research and special pediatric care.

Raphael Minaskanian is dedicated to the advancement of music education, and thus, is a regular juror in music competitions. In addition, he is a uniquely respected professor of music at Tehran universities and conservatories, whose students often rank among finalists, and garner accolades and top prizes.