Akh Im Champen

Born in Alexandropol (now Gyumri). It was here that Levon Madoyan received his secondary education and studied music. From 1923 to 1939 he worked in the oriental instruments group of the Leninakan branch of the Armenian Philharmonic. In 1939 he moved to Yerevan and played in the folk instruments orchestra of the Armenian Philharmonic, and then in the folk instruments ensemble of the Radio Committee. From 1952 he was a soloist of the Folk Instruments Ensemble of Armenian Television and Radio. His repertoire included Armenian folk and ashugh songs, dance tunes, mughams and instrumental works by Armenian composers. He restored many songs and dance tunes of Shirak. He gave concerts in Moscow, Tbilisi, Tashkent, Rostov-on-Don and elsewhere. In 1961 Levon Madoyan was awarded the title of People's Artist of the Armenian SSR. He died in Yerevan.