SHELL Piano Trio

Shushana Hakobyan, piano | Lilit Zakaryan, violin | Katya Janpoladyan, cello

with special guest Mariné Chahinian, soprano

This concert is dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp and the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. This program features a mix of profoundly emotional yet uplifting compositions by N. Piovani,

J. Williams, A. Babajanyan, and A. Khachaturian. Additionally, we are excited to present the world premiere of a composition by Professor Deon Nielsen Price, which is based on an original Armenian tune from Artsakh, as a central piece of the program.

Formed in 1996 in Yerevan, Armenia, the Shell Piano Trio brought together pianist Shushan Hakobyan, violinist Lilit Zakaryan, and cellist Katya Janpoladyan to create a remarkable musical unit. Their synergy quickly propelled them to international acclaim. In just a few years after forming the group, they were touring Europe. They appeared in concerts throughout Armenia and the US, showcasing their technical virtuosity, musical excellence and stylistic versatility.

In 2001, the trip took part in the Ukrainian Contemporary Music Festival in Odessa, followed by appearances in the Alte Schmiede Auditorium in Austria and their 1st Prize-winning performance at the Chamber Music Competition in Paris, France. The next tour brought the trio to Russia, France, and Austria where they performed programs in celebration of Armenian composers and were praised for their refinement and brilliance in the press.

In 2013, the group paused in pursuit of the individual careers of its members. Reunited in 2024, the Shell Piano Trio marked the joyous occasion by touring throughout Canada and the US with most recent performances in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Cleveland, Ohio, once again captivating the audiences with their artistic brilliance and passion.

Shushana Hakobyan

Shushana Hakobyan, a pianist-virtuoso, holds a Master's degree and PhD in music from Komitas State Conservatory in Armenia. Additionally, she earned a Graduate Certificate in Keyboard Collaborative Arts from the University of Southern California (USC), showcasing her commitment to excellence in her craft.

As one of the leading soloists of the Armenian State Philharmonic and a founding member of the SHELL Armenia State Philharmonic Trio, Shushana has left an indelible mark on the global music scene. The trio embarked on successful tours worldwide, captivating audiences across Europe with their exceptional performances.

Shushana's artistry recently graced the stages of the "Interfaith Center at the Presidio" in San Francisco and the "Concert Society of Coraopolis" in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, further solidifying her reputation as a captivating and globally recognized pianist. In October of 2023, Shushana Hakobyan performed in a charitable concert in Toronto, Canada to raise funds for families affected by the Azerbaijani aggression in Artsakh.

Beyond her performance career, Shushana is the Founder and President of Music For Unity Piano Arts Center, a testament to her dedication to using music as a means to foster unity and positive change. Additionally, she has established the acclaimed concert series "By The Piano With Shushana", which has received awards and is steadily growing in popularity.

Shushana's extensive career includes being a sought-after piano instructor with over 13 years of teaching experience. She is equally revered as a collaborative pianist and a soloist in Southern California.

Ms. Hakobyan's biography reflects not only her exceptional musical talent and global impact but also her unwavering commitment to education, philanthropy, and the

promotion of unity through the universal language of music.

Katya Janpoladyan

Katya Janpoladyan is a distinguished Armenian-American cellist, educator, and arts administrator dedicated to promoting classical music. She studied at the Yerevan State Conservatory before earning a Master of Music in Cello Performance from the University of Cincinnati on a full scholarship.

A passionate chamber musician, Ms. Janpoladyan is a core member of Kassia Ensemble, a groundbreaking all-female chamber group committed to innovative programming and collaborations.

In addition to performing, Ms. Janpoladyan is the Executive Director of the Perspectives Festival, an initiative celebrating diverse voices in classical music. As an educator with over two decades of experience, she was a faculty member of the University of Cincinnati and the Carnegie Mellon Preparatory Departments and maintains private studios in Pittsburgh.

Katya has delivered masterclasses in the U.S., China, Chile, and Europe and has upcoming performances in the United States, Canada, and Brazil. Beyond performance and teaching, Ms. Janpoladyan owns Arev Music Entertainment LLC, reflecting her commitment to fostering musical excellence.

Lilit Zakaryan

Lilit Zakaryan has earned a Master's Degree in Musical Arts in Performance from Yerevan State Conservatory. With over two decades of experience, she has held prominent positions in the industry, including Principal 2nd Violin (2001–2005) and later the Orchestra Principal (2005–2013) with the Armenia Philharmonic Orchestra, performing across Europe, Russia, and Asia.

Beyond that, she performed in a chamber orchestra and with a piano trio, showcasing their artistry in prestigious venues across France, Italy, Austria, and the United States. Her excellence and virtuosity have been marked by multiple wins of international competition prizes and the Gold Medal from the Armenian Presidential Culture Award.

Since 2013, Lilit continued her career in North America, performing with the Casa Loma Orchestra, Opera Lyrics Orchestra, SPO Orchestra, and as principal with the Rubato String Quartet.

Mariné Chahinian

Mariné Chahinian is an award-winning soprano who is celebrated for her performances across international stages.

She is a graduate of the Komitas State Conservatory in Yerevan, as well as the Opera House Academy and the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia in Rome, with a repertoire that spans various genres.

Mariné has delighted the audiences in Canada, Armenia, Italy, Vatican City, France, Spain, Greece, Lebanon and beyond, delivering soulful renditions that resonate deeply. She has collaborated with esteemed vocal coaches, musicians and conductors.

Ms. Chahinian has showcased her talent through solo performances and collaborations with renowned choirs such as “The Chamber Choir of Armenia”, “Speghani”, ”Our Lady of Armenia Choir”, “Fayha Choir”, and “Art Vocal Ensemble”.

With a dedication to musical excellence and a passion for touching hearts through her art of classical and liturgical music, Mariné continues to make an impact on a global scale. In September of 2023, Mariné married Haig Chahinian, and the two settled in Toronto, Canada.

Dr. Deon Nielsen Price

Deon Nielsen Price is an award-winning pianist, commissioned composer, choral and orchestra conductor, recording artist, veteran educator and published author. Since Fall of 2017, she has curated the monthly Sunday Concert Series at historic Presidio Chapel for the Interfaith Center at the Presidio of San Francisco, where she is Composer-in-Residence.

As a solo and collaborative pianist, since the early 1950s, she has performed regularly on university and community concerts across the continental United States, as well as at international festivals in the U.S.A., China, Alaska, Italy, Austria, Germany, England, France, Spain, Mexico, Panama, and Korea, under the auspices of Academia Pro Arte, the International Congresses on Women in Music, the National Association of Composers/USA, the International Alliance for Women Composers, the ECHOSPHERE touring ensembles and the Price Duo (son Berkeley Price, Doctor of Musical Arts in clarinet performance Eastman School of Music, and Deon, pianist/composer.)

Having studied composition primarily with Leslie Bassett and Samuel Adler, she has heard her compositions performed in many countries in Europe, former Soviet Union, Asia and Central America, as well as across the United States by countless soloists and groups and on Cambria Master Recordings distributed by NAXOS.

Artist/composer residencies, commissions, grants and awards have been from the Alaska Arts Council, American Composers Forum, American Music Center, Arts/Mid-west, Barlow Endowment for Composition, Beijing Concert Hall, Beijing 2008 International Congress on Women in Music, National Association of Composers/USA, International Alliance for Women in Music, Mu Phi Epsilon Fraternity and MPE International Foundation, Professional Fraternity Association, American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, University of Northern Iowa, University of Panama (and many U. S. universities), U.S. State Department Artists Abroad, California Composers Today, New York LDS (Mormon) Composers, the Musicians’ Union and Meet the Composer.

Retired from the piano/theory faculty at El Camino College in Torrance, CA, Dr. Price has also taught on the music faculties at California State University, Northridge; University of California, Santa Barbara; University of Southern California; Los Angeles Harbor and Mission Colleges, Long Beach City College, and the Crossroads School of Arts and Sciences, as well as in her private studio. She has served as adjudicator for performer and composer competitions, such as the Gina Bachauer Piano Competition, California Association of Private Music Teachers (CAPMT), Music Teachers Association of California (MTAC), Young Musicians Foundation (YMF), International Congress on Women in Music (ICWM), International Alliance for Women in Music (IAWM) and National Association of Composers, USA (NACUSA).

Ms. Price has earned a Bachelor of Arts and Gold Medal Piano Award from Brigham Young University, a Master of Music in piano performance and composition from the University of Michigan, and a PhD of Musical Arts in piano performance with Honors in Accompanying from the University of Southern California.

Ms. Deon Nielsen Price was married to the late Kendall O. Price, Ph.D. for 63 years. They are parents of five children and have eighteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Dr. Price resides in Arroyo Grande, California.