Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Action
Christine Pambukyan
Staff Writer
Dr. Michael Krikorian is a pianist, composer, and educator who has won countless top prizes all around the world and has performed and competed across the United States, Italy, France, China, and South Korea.
At 3:00PM on Sunday, October 20, the Los Angeles-based pianist and Fresno native, Dr. Krikorian performed in the Concert Hall at Fresno State as part of the 48th season of the Philip Lorenz International Keyboard Concerts series. The Concert was held in collaboration with the Armenian Studies Program of Fresno State and his performance was part of the “Young Armenian Talent” series. The Thomas A. Kooyumjian Foundation provided major funding for the Concert.
As Dr. Krikorian was a Fresno native and a musician with a great reputation, the Concert Hall was packed with family, friends, teachers, and students of the young pianist.
Much like a master class, Dr. Krikorian explained the historical context and theme of each piece with a humorous approach before he performed them. This approach helped keep the audience of all ages engaged and involved as Dr. Krikorian performed his prelude and interpretation of Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s “Yesterday,” as well the works of classical and contemporary composers Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Liszt, Alexander Scriabin, Béla Bartók, and Armenian composers Arno Babadjanian and Komitas.
Throughout the concert, the energy was high. The audience laughed at Dr. Krikorian’s jokes and watched in awe as he moved his fingers across the ivory with such intensity and precision that one could see that his fingers were turning red. As he moved with every note, playing from memory with his eyes closed, he was able to convey the theme and emotion of each piece. When the last note of Bartók’s “Sonata” resounded throughout the Concert Hall, the audience was on their feet, cheering and asking for even more.
For his encore, Dr. Krikorian played Komitas Vardapet’s “Vagharshapat Dance.” When he finished the last note, he jumped to his feet and bowed, ending the afternoon concert with the same vigor and excitement with which it began.
Photo: Andrew Hagopian
Dr. Krikorian earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music at Fresno State as a student of Andreas Werz. Then, Krikorian earned his Master’s in Music at the Manhattan School of Music in New York, in the studio of Arkady Aronov. He completed a DMA in piano performance at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, as a student of Antoinette Perry.
A private piano teacher, a member of the La Cañada School of Music and the South Pasadena Music Center and Conservatory, and a recently appointed adjunct professor of music at Los Angeles Pierce College, Dr. Krikorian also composes music for concerts on stage and visual media. In fact, his most recent composition was a score for a video game based on Beethoven’s Fidelio, titled The Fidelio Incident.
After the concert, audience members were able to meet and talk to the talented pianist, as they enjoyed hors d’oeuvres. Overall, the Concert made for an exciting, informative, and entertaining Sunday afternoon.