Movses Pogossian (violin)

Movses Pogossian made his American debut with the Boston Pops in 1990, about which Boston Globe wrote: “There is freedom in his playing, but also taste and discipline. It was a fiery, centered, and highly musical performance…” Prizewinner of several competitions, including the 1986 Tchaikovsky International Competition, he extensively performed as soloist and recitalist worldwide. As chamber musician, Movses has collaborated with such artists as Kim Kashkashian, Alexei Lubimov, Jeremy Denk, Rohan de Saram, and with members of the Tokyo, Kronos, and Brentano string quartets. Movses is Artistic Director of the acclaimed Dilijan Chamber Music Series, currently in its 15th season dilijan.larkmusicalsociety.org. Champion of new music, he has premiered over 80 works, and worked closely with composers such as Kurtág, Harbison, Saariaho, Mansurian, and Gabriela Lena Frank. His discography includes the Complete Sonatas and Partitas by J. S. Bach, solo violin CDs “Inspired by Bach,” “Blooming Sounds,” and “In Nomine,” and recently released “Con Anima” album of Tigran Mansurian’s music on ECM label. In his review of Kurtág’s “Kafka Fragments” (with soprano Tony Arnold) Paul Griffiths writes: “…remarkable is Pogossian’s contribution, which is always beautiful, across a great range of colors and gestures, and always seems on the edge of speaking—or beyond.” Movses is Professor of Violin at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music and also Founding Director of the UCLA Armenian Music Program https://schoolofmusic.ucla.edu/resources/armenian-music-program/. As Head of the Los Angeles Chapter, he actively participates in the Music for Food Project which raises awareness of the hunger problem and gives the opportunity to experience the powerful role music can play as a catalyst for change. Movses has performed at the Festival since 2001.

[2023]