WOLFSON COLLEGE MUSIC SOCIETY

Sarkis Zakarian

will play:

Mozart: Rondo in A minor K511

Schubert: Sonata in A major D664

Chopin: Scherzo in B flat minor Op.31

Arno Babajanian: Elegy

Liszt: Sonata

on Sunday 19 February 2012 at 5 pm in the Hall, Wolfson College

ALL WELCOME

Tickets on the door £7 (£4 concessions)

including interval refreshments

All proceeds in aid of The African Medical Research Foundation (AMREF), the College charity.

Recognized as one of the leading artists of his generation Sarkis Zakarian has pursued a performing career in the United Kingdom and abroad. Following a highly acclaimed and described as “truly poetic” debut recital at London's Wigmore Hall, Sarkis was invited to attend the International Piano Academy Lake Como in Italy where he had the opportunity to work with renowned artists such as Leon Fleisher, Claude Frank, Fou T'song, Dmitri Bashkirov and Charles Rosen. Sarkis is a prize-winner of various prestigious competitions such as Dudley International Piano Competition, Bromsgrove International Artists Competition and the Brant Birmingham International Competition. He has appeared as a solo artist in venues such as the Purcell Room, Royal Festival Hall, St.Martin-in-the-Fields etc. and has been invited to perform solo recitals and chamber music in international festivals such as the Festival der Kunste in Germany, the Glories of the Keyboard Festival in Manchester, Varna Summer International Music Festival etc. As a concerto soloist, Sarkis has performed with leading British and Bulgarian Orchestras. He was also invited as a member of the jury of the 2nd International Arts Festival La Paon Lamineux in Varna. His interest in collaborating with contemporary composers led to the inspiring experience of meeting Estonian composer Arvo Part and premiering some of the composer's works in London, which were broadcasted on BBC Radio 3. Other recordings have been broadcasted on Classic FM Radio, BBC Radio 4 and Bulgarian National Radio. As a keen representative of the Armenian heritage, Sarkis continues to thrill his audiences with works by Armenian composers including Komitas, Babajanyan and Khachatryan. Recent concert engagements included performances of the Schumann Piano Quintet with the renowned Chilingirian String Quartet, during the March Musical Days Festival in Russe as well as a performance of the same quintet with the Forte String Quartet in London and New York.

Sarkis Zakarian combines his concert schedule with a teaching career as a piano professor in London, as well as master classes in Bulgaria, Cyprus and USA. He has also lectured on the music of Chopin at Royal Academy of Music, having received a prize for the best Dissertation Presentation.

Born in Varna, Bulgaria in 1978, Sarkis first studied with Miryana Savova at the Dobri Hristov Music School. He continued his studies in London with Professor Patsy Toh at the Purcell School of Music and the Royal Academy of Music where he also worked with visiting professors Maria Curcio and Dominique Merlet. Presently, Sarkis lives in London and continues to perform in leading UK and international concert platforms.

"Zakarian showed playing of considerable individuality, harnessed by the most beautiful bel canto lines and endorsed by a true spirit of spontaneity." (The Piano Magazine)