Reflections

He was born in Yerevan. In 1933 he graduated from the violin class of the Spendiaryan Music School in Yerevan. From 1934 he continued his studies in the violin department of the music college. At the same time, however, he played the trumpet, and from 1937 the saxophone. From 1937 he was a soloist of the State Jazz Orchestra of the Armenian SSR, led by Artemi Ayvazyan. From 1941 he travelled to the front with concerts. From 1945 he worked in the Estrada Orchestra of All-Union Radio (from the day of its founding, for more than 40 years). He is the first saxophonist of the USSR. In 1953 he graduated from the oboe class of the music college attached to the P. Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory. In 1968 he was awarded the title of Honored Artist of the RSFSR.