Михаил Малунцян

Michael Maluntsian (1903–1973) was an Armenian conductor, People's Artist of the Armenian SSR (1956), Principal conductor and Artistic Director of the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra from 1945 to 1960 and in 1966-67. He mentored Rafael Mangasarian, David Khanjyan and few other notable conductors. Maluntsian started his career as a cellist. He graduated from the Tbilisi Conservatory in 1925 and even taught the instrument at the Yerevan Conservatory in 1927-31. After Michael decided to change his musical profession, he entered the Moscow Conservatory to study operatic-symphonic conducting with Leo Ginzburg.