Levon Chilingirian
Encyclopedia
Levon Chilingirian OBE (born 28 May 1948) is a UK-based violin
ist. The founder of the Chilingirian Quartet, he is also a professor at the Royal College of Music
in London
and is musical director of Camerata Nordica, a Swedish
chamber orchestra. He is also artistic director of the Mendelssohn on Mull festival.
Born to Armenian
parents in Nicosia
, Cyprus
, Chilingirian began playing the violin when he was five, being taught by his uncle. He came to Britain
when he was 12 and studied at the Royal College of Music. He won first prize in the BBC Beethoven and the Munich Duo competitions in 1969 and 1971 respectively.
In 1971 he founded the Chilingirian Quartet, which has developed a strong association with a number of composer
s, including John Tavener
and Michael Berkeley
. He was also one of the first members of The English Concert
, and played in their first London concert in 1973. The Chilingirian Quartet hold an annual summer school at West Dean College
.
In addition to teaching, playing and recording, Chilingirian’s interest in the work of Edvard Grieg
led to his own version of the composer's incomplete Quartet in F major.
In the 2000 New Year Honours list, Chilingirian was awarded the Order of the British Empire
for services to music.
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist. The founder of the Chilingirian Quartet, he is also a professor at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and is musical director of Camerata Nordica, a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
chamber orchestra. He is also artistic director of the Mendelssohn on Mull festival.
Born to Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
parents in Nicosia
Nicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
, Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, Chilingirian began playing the violin when he was five, being taught by his uncle. He came to Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
when he was 12 and studied at the Royal College of Music. He won first prize in the BBC Beethoven and the Munich Duo competitions in 1969 and 1971 respectively.
In 1971 he founded the Chilingirian Quartet, which has developed a strong association with a number of composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
s, including John Tavener
John Tavener
Sir John Tavener is a British composer, best known for such religious, minimal works as "The Whale", and "Funeral Ikos"...
and Michael Berkeley
Michael Berkeley
Michael Berkeley is a British composer and broadcaster on music.-Early life:His father was the composer Sir Lennox Berkeley...
. He was also one of the first members of The English Concert
The English Concert
The English Concert is a baroque orchestra playing on period instruments based in London. Founded in 1972 and directed from the harpsichord by Trevor Pinnock for 30 years, it is now directed by harpsichordist Harry Bicket...
, and played in their first London concert in 1973. The Chilingirian Quartet hold an annual summer school at West Dean College
West Dean College
West Dean College is situated in the West Dean Estate, of West Dean near Chichester. The Estate was formerly the home of the poet and patron of the arts, Edward James. He was an avid admirer of the Surrealist movement, and formed one of the largest collections of their works during his lifetime...
.
In addition to teaching, playing and recording, Chilingirian’s interest in the work of Edvard Grieg
Edvard Grieg
Edvard Hagerup Grieg was a Norwegian composer and pianist. He is best known for his Piano Concerto in A minor, for his incidental music to Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt , and for his collection of piano miniatures Lyric Pieces.-Biography:Edvard Hagerup Grieg was born in...
led to his own version of the composer's incomplete Quartet in F major.
In the 2000 New Year Honours list, Chilingirian was awarded the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for services to music.