Hayk Melikyan
Hayk Melikyan is celebrated as a most versatile and imaginative performer. Equally at home in 20th Century and Contemporary music as in the classical and baroque repertoire, he is recognised by classical music audiences and critics as one of today’s most engaging, virtuoso pianists. Melikyan started playing the piano with Irina Grishinskaya and later continued his professional studies with Professor Alexander Gourgenov at the Yerevan Komitas Conservatory. He leads an active concert life, playing throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas on prestigious stages such as Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Athens Megaron, Geneva's Victoria Hall, Tokyo’s Suntory Hall, Lisbon’s Gulbenkian Grand Auditorium, and Teatro Solis in Montevideo, Uruguay. He is a frequent performer at international music festivals.
Melikyan is a laureate of many International Piano Competitions. The Armenian Musical Assembly awarded him the esteemed Komitas Medal in 2008, and Moscow Composers Union bestowed him their Golden Medal in 2012. In 2013, he received the Title of Honorary Artist of Armenia and in September 2025, Melikyan was awarded the Movses Khorenatsi Medal by the President of Armenia; the highest state honour bestowed for cultural achievements.
A champion of contemporary music, in 2009 Melikyan launched 1900+, a series on 20th-century piano music, and in 2020, 2000+ to promote music from the current century. He received the Armenian Ministry’s Golden Medal for 1900+ in 2024. BBC Music Magazine named him “a Musical Hero” for his promotion of contemporary music.
Hayk Melikyan has collaborated with many renowned performers, composers, and conductors, including Kristóf Baráti, Francesco Dillon, Valery Gergiev, György Kurtág, Tigran Mansurian, Gianluca Marcianò, Diego Martin-Etxebarria, Edgar Moreau, Krzysztof Penderecki, Hugo Ticciati, Carolin Widmann and Pēteris Vasks.
‘Hayk Melikyan... has power and agility to spare, with plenty of attention to inner voicings’
– Fanfare Magazine
‘Melikyan’s performances are very good…’
– American Record Guide
