Ara Gregorian

Known for his thrilling performances and musical creativity, violinist/violist Ara Gregorian made his New York recital debut in 1996 in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall and his debut as soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra in Symphony Hall in 1997. Since that time he has established himself as one of the most sought-after and versatile musicians of his generation with performances in New York’s Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Washington D.C.’s Kennedy Center and in major metropolitan cities throughout the world including Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Cleveland, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Ulaanbaatar, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Helsinki.

Throughout his career, Gregorian has taken an active role as a performer and presenter of chamber music. He is the founder and artistic director of the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival in North Carolina, which is celebrating its 20th Anniversary Season, and has appeared at festivals worldwide including the SpringLight (Finland), Storioni (Holland), Summer Solstice (Canada), Casals (Puerto Rico), Intimacy of Creativity (Hong Kong), Voice of Music in the Upper Galilee (Israel), Bard, Bravo! Vail Valley, Taos, Beethoven Institute, Santa Fe, Skaneateles, Music in the Vineyards, Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society, Cactus Pear, Wintergreen, Mt. Desert, Chesapeake, Madeline Island, Kingston, Manchester and Strings in the Mountains festivals. He is a member of the Cooperstown Quartet, has performed extensively as a member of Concertante and the Daedalus Quartet, and has recorded for National Public Radio, New York’s WQXR radio station, and the Bridge and Kleos labels.

An active and committed teacher, Gregorian is the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival Distinguished Professor in Music at East Carolina University where he has been on the violin/viola faculty since 1998. He has taught at numerous summer festivals and seminars and has taken a leading role in creating performing opportunities that bring together talented students, young professionals and world-renowned musicians through the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival’s Next Gen on the Road, Summer Chamber Music Institute and Winter Workshop initiatives.