Biography

Ovanes Arakelyan began his musical studies in Armenia, and later in Russia. He moved to the United States and pursued his studies in Southern California earning a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Southern California, with intensive training in the class of Professor Daniel Pollack. In 2007 he moved to Fresno, CA and established a music school there while pursuing his Master’s degree as a full time student at California State University, Fresno where he also taught an introductory piano course as a Teaching Associate.

After obtaining his MA, he moved back to Los Angeles where he obtained a Doctorate Degree in Musical Arts in 2015 from Claremont Graduate University under the tutelage of Dr. Stewart Gordon. At CGU he conducted original research on the piano music of Armenian composers. Dr. Arakelyan has had numerous performances throughout the United States and abroad, reaching concert stages, such as Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and the Ford Amphitheatre, among many California colleges presenting various lecture recitals. From 2004-2007 he concertized with his sister, Gianeh Arakelyan. They were invited to perform at the 39th Gala Concert with the American Youth Symphony at the esteemed Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in the Los Angeles Music Center, performing the "Carnival of the Animals" by C. Saint-Saens on two pianos, directed by Maestro Alexander Treger.

In 2006 the duo was selected to perform at the Weil Recital Hall in New York’s Carnegie Hall in the Musical Armenia concert organized by the Armenian Prelacy of New York. In 2004, they released an album dedicated to the Centennial Anniversary of Aram Khachaturian. The album was broadcast on classical radio stations in Portland, Oregon and in Las Vegas, NV. In 2012-13 Dr. Arakelyan performed as a winner of the Beverly Hills Audition in numerous concerts presenting chamber works with Dr. Chika Inoue on the Saxophone.

From Fall, 2016 he has been teaching numerous classes at Glendale Community College, including class piano, keyboard harmony, applied and chamber music. In January 2019 he organized the first music competition for High School seniors at Glendale Community College, which brought together many talented young musicians from the community to compete, perform and receive masterclasses from GCC professors. From 2020 he began teaching at Ventura College and Oxnard College, where he has taught class and applied piano, music fundamentals, understanding music and dance for the elementary instructor and rock history. He is currently writing a textbook on keyboard harmony, which will be used in college classes. Dr. Arakelyan also works with intermediate and advanced musician at his private studio to enhance and propel their musical studies, many of whom have received honors and awards.

Most recently, since August of 2024, Arakelyan has begun teaching at Saddleback College as well as Cerro Coso Community College.