Haykaz Mesiayan

Born in the city of Sebastia (now Sivas) in Western Armenia. In 1947 he graduated from the Moscow Conservatory, in the class of Professor Tabakov. In 1938-42 and 1945-47 he was a soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre of the USSR and of the symphonic jazz orchestra of All-Union Radio; in 1947-60 a soloist of the Armenian Symphony Orchestra and of the Yerevan Opera and Ballet Theatre; and from 1964 the artistic director and principal conductor of the "Yerevan" brass band (from 1970 the State Brass Band of Armenia). From 1966 he taught in the chamber ensemble class of the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory (professor from 1983). In 1941 he became a diploma winner of the All-Union Competition of Performing Musicians in Moscow. In 1962 he was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the Armenian SSR. He died in Yerevan.