Young Composer Grigori Balasanyan Is the Future Aram Khachaturian of the Classical Music World – Naira Gyurjinyan

Young and promising composer Grigori Balasanyan recently graduated from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee — a full year ahead of schedule. He was also elected by the Conservatory as the student commencement speaker for the graduating class.

Grigori will continue his education at his alma mater, now as a master’s student.

His musical journey began in early childhood — at the age of six. By the time he was ten, the talented young composer had already released his first music album.

One of Grigori’s first mentors in the world of music was a renowned musicologist and Honored Artist of Armenia, Naira Gyurjinyan. At the request of Tert.am, she shared her memories of Grigori’s first steps in music.

-You taught Grigori from the age of six. What do you remember from those first lessons? Was it already clear at the time that this was a special child?

-We started working with Grigori at a very young age, when his mother brought him to me for vocal lessons. After assessing his musical abilities, it became immediately clear that Grigori had a musical ear and a very good sense of rhythm. Of course, it's hard to spot a child’s talent after just a few lessons, but it was very soon undeniable that he had a unique approach to music. Almost every lesson, he would surprise me with little melodies he had composed, trying to show them to me without knowing how to write music. With his small hands, using just one finger, he would play those melodies and insist that I accompany him, because he was deeply immersed in the world of musical harmony, which is quite rare for a six-year-old. He was a very warm and curious child, and despite his age, he was a leader in the group

-It’s crucial for any child to be in the right place at the right time and to be surrounded by people who will nurture their unique talent. In Grigori’s case, it was his mother, Marina, who, despite many hardships, was always by her son’s side. At my request, Marina enrolled him at the Sayat-Nova Music School so Grigori could develop in an academic environment. Over the years, as his compositions became more serious, Grigori released his first album of short pieces, titled “The Melody”, at age 10. At the album’s premiere, after praising his enormous effort, I half-jokingly suggested, “Maybe it’s time to write a larger-scale work, what do you think about composing a ballet based on Alice in Wonderland?” A few months later, after I had already forgotten about that “assignment,” Grigori called me and said, “Naira Lorikovna, the overture is ready.” I was stunned. And after hearing it, despite a few comments, it became clear to me that Grigori had a great future ahead of him. Not long after, a 40-minute modern ballet premiered at the Stanislavsky Drama Theater. This modern ballet became the starting point for a deeper study of composition at the Spendiaryan Music School.

-You’ve trained many generations of musicians. In your opinion, what made Grigori different from his peers during his childhood? Was there something especially unique in his musical perception?

-The fact that, from a very young age, he could already hear all the elements of an orchestra in his head without any formal music education was extraordinary. What makes him unique, apart from his extraordinary musical talent, is that even now, as a more mature person, he has not lost the child within his soul. That’s why his works are “honest” and unique. Grigori composed a ballet at the age of 14–15, which was performed by the State Symphony Orchestra. 

-How rare is this in your experience? What personal traits allowed him to achieve such a level at such a young age?

-Nothing like this has ever happened before in Armenia. It’s actually a rather interesting story how Grigori received an offer to compose a ballet at age 14 from the then First Lady of Armenia, Nune Sarkissian. On his way home from a lesson, he noticed the President Armen Sarkissian walking on the street. With childlike innocence, he approached the President, introduced himself as a young composer, and then, full of sincerity, asked if they could wait a few minutes while he ran home to bring his CD. When Grigori called and told me, I was speechless, but I said, “Of course, this is unusual, but if it worked and you reached your goal, then you did everything right.” And that’s exactly what happened. A few weeks later, Grigori received an invitation from First Lady Nune Sarkissian, who is also a children’s book author, and she suggested he write a ballet based on one of her books. And yes, the ballet was recorded by the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra. The entire Armenian nation should be proud to have such a talented Armenian. Attending the ballet’s premiere, I was incredibly proud, and it became clear to me that Grigori is the future Aram Khachaturian of classical music.

-And how aware are you of Grigori’s current activities and successes?

-We have never lost touch, and Grigori continues to share all his news with me. As his first teacher, I am so proud that he recently graduated from one of the world’s top music universities, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, and it's important to note that due to his academic performance, he graduated a year early and is now continuing his studies. The Conservatory Leadership even selected Grigori to be the commencement speaker for the class of 2025, which is a huge honor and part of a tradition dating back to the school’s founding. In recent years, he has truly achieved extraordinary success, such as his solo concert at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall, and the premiere of his opera at the Boston Conservatory, which, by the way, is only the second student-composed opera in the school’s history since 1867. And perhaps most importantly, he has never lost touch with his Armenian roots. In all his compositions, you can unmistakably hear Armenian motifs, which makes them even more unique and unforgettable. His opera, “Silent Tears,” tells the story of a 13-year-old girl displaced from Artsakh whom Grigori met during the war; she had lost her parents in the 44-day war. I would very much like for the Armenian Government to recognize and support the talents of their country, not when they’ve already become established, but when they need that support the most.

Anna Barseghyan