Яков Папян

Yakov Papyan (b. 1940), also known as Yasha Papian, is an Armenian viola player, laureate of various Soviet and international competitions, the Honored Artist of Armenia. He had been studying with Mikhail Terian and later received his PhD diploma from the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. Since 1996, Yasha Papian lives in California, USA. In 1976, Papian joined Eduard Tadevossyan in Komitas Quartet. Together with Hakop Mekinyan (2nd violin) and Felix Simonian (cello), he formed the new line-up of renowned ensemble and had been playing in the group until 1991. Papyan formed the trio with violinist Hrachia Harutunyan and pianist Anahit Nersesyan in 1994, but the group only performed for two years. After that, Yakov relocated to the United States. Overseas he continued his music career and had been performing and organizing workshops in USA, Mexico, Brazil, and Spain. To commemorate Aram Khatchaturian centennial in 2003, Yasha Papyan re-arranged Seventeen Pieces from his various works for the string quartet. In 2006, Komitas Quartet performed and recorded this collection. Name variations: Yakov Papian, Yasha Papyan, Jakov Papyan