Artemi Ayvazyan

Artemi Ayvazyan was born in Baku. Ayvazyan received his primary music education at Baku College. He graduated from Tbilisi Conservatory in 1923, Moscow Conservatory in 1932 and Higher Masters School in 1934. He studied Composition under the tuition of Alexander Spendiaryan. From 1927 to 1930 he worked as a Director at Leninakan (present day Gyumri) music studio. In 1933 Artemi Ayvazyan became the Laureate of the first All-Union contest of musicians and performers. In 1938 he formed the Armenian State Pop Band (later jazz) and was the artistic director of the band between 1938 and 1956. From 1943 to 1945 Ayvazyan was the artistic director of Yerevan Musical Comedy Theater. He created the first Soviet-Armenian operettas. In 1962 he was awarded the title of People's Artist of Armenia. Ayvazyan died in Yerevan in 1975.