Cello sings in hands of young musician

By Khalid Moss, Staff Writer 6:59 PM Friday, November 20, 2009

As it turns out, Yo Yo Ma is not the only musician who can make the cello sing like Edith Piaf.

Cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan is an Armenian musical prodigy with an impressive bag of credentials. He makes his Dayton debut at 8 tonight, Nov. 21, in the NCR Auditorium for Dayton Art Institute’s long-running Vanguard Concert Series.

The 21 year-old wunderkid is a fresh new voice on the chamber music scene.

“In Armenia he had a private teacher, but at the age of 12 he was offered a scholarship to the prestigious Moscow Conservatory of Music in Russia,” said Vanguard Series founder Alana Bolling.

Bolling and her husband Vince founded the series in 1962 to present world-class chamber music at the DAI. From its inception the Bollings sought to shine the spotlight on young artists.

“I have a policy where we want to present mature ensembles,” Bolling explained. “But we also want to feature young people.”

Hakhnazaryan won First Prize in the 2008 Young Concert Artists International Auditions and debuted at Carnegie Hall. This season, he will make two appearances with The Boston Pops Orchestra. In Dayton Hakhnazaryan will be accompanied by internationally renowned pianist, Noreen Cassidy-Polera.

“Noreen is considered one of the top accompanists in the world,” Bolling said. “She has collaborated with leading soloists such as Leonard Rose and Yo-Yo Ma.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2167 or kmoss@DaytonDailyNews.com.