Role

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Composer

Birth

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1983

 

Mary Kouyoumdjian is a contemporary classical music composer who has gained recognition for her unique and powerful compositions. Born in 1983 in New Jersey, Kouyoumdjian grew up in a family of Armenian immigrants who instilled in her a deep appreciation for music and culture. Her parents were both musicians, and her father was a composer as well. Kouyoumdjian began playing the piano at a young age and quickly developed a passion for music. Kouyoumdjian attended the Manhattan School of Music, where she studied composition with Marjorie Merryman and Nils Vigeland. She also earned a Master of Music degree in composition from the Purchase College Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Huang Ruo and Du Yun. During her studies, Kouyoumdjian was awarded numerous scholarships and awards, including the ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award and the BMI Student Composer Award. Kouyoumdjian's compositions are deeply influenced by her Armenian heritage and her experiences as a first-generation American. She often incorporates elements of Armenian folk music and culture into her works, creating a unique blend of traditional and contemporary styles. Her music is also characterized by its emotional intensity and its exploration of difficult and complex themes. One of Kouyoumdjian's most notable works is "Silent Cranes," a multimedia piece that explores the Armenian Genocide of 1915. The piece features a combination of live and recorded music, as well as video and spoken word elements. "Silent Cranes" has been performed at numerous venues and festivals, including the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the MATA Festival in New York City. Another notable work by Kouyoumdjian is "Bombs of Beirut," a piece that explores the 2006 Lebanon War. The piece features a combination of live and recorded music, as well as video and spoken word elements. "Bombs of Beirut" has been performed at venues and festivals around the world, including the Bang on a Can Marathon in New York City and the Sound of Stockholm Festival in Sweden. Kouyoumdjian's other works include "Aghavni," a piece for string quartet that explores the life of her grandmother, and "Dzov Yerku," a piece for piano and electronics that incorporates Armenian folk melodies. She has also collaborated with a variety of artists and ensembles, including the Kronos Quartet, the American Composers Orchestra, and the JACK Quartet. In addition to her work as a composer, Kouyoumdjian is also an educator and advocate for new music. She has taught composition at the Purchase College Conservatory of Music and the New York Youth Symphony, and she has served as a mentor for young composers through programs such as the American Composers Orchestra's EarShot program. Kouyoumdjian's work has been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in Music/Sound, the Aaron Copland Award, and the Civitella Ranieri Foundation Fellowship. She has also been commissioned by a variety of organizations and ensembles, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Albany Symphony Orchestra, and the American Composers Forum. Overall, Mary Kouyoumdjian is a talented and innovative composer who has made significant contributions to the world of contemporary classical music. Her work is characterized by its emotional intensity, its exploration of difficult themes, and its incorporation of Armenian folk music and culture.

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