Tsamtel (from "Shamiram" Oratorio)

Spiridon Melikyan was born in Etchmiadzin. In 1902, he graduated from the Gevorkian Seminary of Etchmiadzin, where he taught until 1905 while serving as an assistant to Komitas. From 1905 to 1908, he lived in Berlin, where he studied music theory and choral conducting in the class of R. Schmidt. During this period, Spiridon also focused on vocal training and attended university lectures on philosophy and music history. From 1908 to 1909, he worked as a singing teacher and conductor at the Shushi Diocesan School. Between 1909 and 1921, Spiridon taught at the Nersisyan School in Tbilisi, where he significantly raised the standards of music education and choral performance. In 1912, he founded the Armenian Musical Society in Tbilisi, followed by the Armenian Choral Society in 1916. From 1921 to 1924, Melikyan worked as a conductor in various Armenian schools. Between 1924 and 1933, he was a lecturer in music theory and choral conducting at the Yerevan State Conservatory. He also held administrative leadership roles there, serving as Rector from 1930 to 1931 and as the Head of the Academic Department from 1931 to 1932. In 1933, Spiridon was honored with the title of Honored Art Worker of Armenia. Spiridon Melikyan passed away in Yerevan.