Biography:
Vardan Ovsepian is an Armenia-born pianist/composer whose studies include Yerevan State Conservatory, Estonian Music Academy, Helsinki Jazz Conservatory, and Berklee College of Music.
Performs solo as well as with artists such as Mick Goodrick, Tim Miller, Peter Erskine, Jerry Bergonzi, David Binney and Tatiana Parra.
In addition to teaching at The Musical Suite in Newburyport, MA, performed and taught master classes at Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival (AK), Maine Jazz Camp (ME), Towson University (MD), Susquehanna University (PA), Bucknell University (PA), Wheeler School (RI), Estonian Music Academy (Tallinn, Estonia), Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music (Chennai, India), Sacheon International Jazz Workshop (Sacheon, S. Korea), Beijing Contemporary Music Academy (Beijing, China), CalArts (CA) and Berklee College of Music (MA).
Vardan has released 5 CDs with “Fresh Sound New Talent” label, independent releases of VOCE - Vardan Ovsepian Chamber Ensemble (2006 and 2013), plus several duo/trio albums.
Recent awards and publications include First Prize at the Achava Jazz Award (Erfurt, Germany - 2017), Chamber Music America Grant for New Jazz Works program funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (New York, NY - 2017), and a release of Peter Erskine New Trio album “In Praise of Shadows”.
Presently Vardan resides in Los Angeles.
CV
Education
1997-2000 Berklee College of Music - Boston, MA
Major in Piano Performance
1995-1997 Helsinki Jazz Conservatory - Helsinki, Finland
Major in Piano Performance
1994-1995 Estonian Music Academy - Tallinn, Estonia
Classes in Contemporary Classical Composition
1992-1994 Yerevan State Conservatory - Yerevan, Armenia
Major in Classical Composition
1990-1992 Romanos Melikyan College of Music - Yerevan, Armenia
Major in Music Theory
1982-1989 Junior Music School - Yerevan, Armenia
Major in Piano Performance and Music Theory
Teaching
California Institute of Arts; Los Angeles CA (2014 - present)
Composition, improvisation (substitute teaching)
Berklee College of Music; Boston MA (November 2014)
Composition masterclass for the professional writing division
Berklee College of Music; Boston MA (November 2014)
Workshop about the “art of duo” for the voice department
Cambridge School of Weston; Weston MA (November 2014)
Composition masterclass
Beijing Contemporary Music Academy; Beijing, China (October 2014)
Small ensemble performance skills (Peter Erskine clinics), jazz piano and composition private instructions
Sacheon International Jazz Workshop: S. Korea (summer 2014)
Lectures on “finding your own voice”, jazz piano and composition private instructions, small ensemble performance skills
Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music: Chennai, India (fall 2010)
Improvisation and composition classes, small ensemble performance skills
The Musical Suite: Newburyport, MA (2000 – 2009)
Classical and jazz piano private instructions, small ensemble performance skills
Maine Jazz Camp: Farmington, ME (2000-2008)
Improvisation and theory classes, small ensemble performance skills
Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival: Fairbanks, AK (2004-2008)
Jazz piano and composition private instructions, small ensemble performance skills
Susquehanna University: Selinsgrove, PA (2006-07, 2007-08, 2014 -15 academic years)
Improvisation and theory classes, small ensemble performance skills
Bucknell University: Lewisburg, PA (2007-08 academic year)
Workshops on improvisation and composition
Wheeler Jazz Camp: Providence, RI (2006, 2007)
Improvisation and composition classes, small ensemble performance skills
Towson State University: Towson, MD (2004-05, 2005-06 academic years)
Improvisation and composition classes
Reviews and Articles
expressmilwaukee.com
Review of Lighthouse by David Luhrssen 2014
O’s Place Jazz Magazine
Review of Lighthouse by Dr. Oscar Groomes 2014
Downbeat Magazine
Review of Akunc and Sketch Book, by Greg Buium; February 2005
The Boston Globe
Preview article of solo performance at Zeitgeist Gallery (Cambridge, MA), by Bill Beuttler; February 2005
jazzpreview.com
Review of Akunc, by Roman St. James; January 2005
The Boston Globe
Article Beauty of Sketch Book Draws Attention to Local Pianist Ovsepian, by Bill Beuttler; March 2004
Keyboard Magazine
Article Mr. Goodchord Goes Keyboard, Part 2, by Mitch Haupers; January 2004
Cadence Building
Review of Sketch Book; July 2003
Portland Press Herald
Review of November 30, 2002 concert at the Center for Cultural Exchange (Portland ME),
by Steve Feeney; December 2002
Awards and Recognition
Chamber Music America Grant for New Jazz Works program
- funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (New York, NY) 2017
Achava Jazz Award First Prize (Erfurt, Germany) 2017
Full Berklee International Tour and Entering Student Scholarships 1997-2000
Liberace Award (merit scholarship) 1999
Edman Jazz Piano Competition First Prize co-winner (Hartford, CT) 1998
Armenian General Benevolent Union Grant 1997-2000
Recordings/Publications
Tomorrow is Yesterday - 2020
Triptych - 2020
Fractal Limit Originals (book) - published in 2020
Every Tomorrow - 2019
Oneness - 2018
Andorr - 2018
The Archaic Present (duet with Biliana Voutchkova) - 2018
In Praise of Shadows (Peter Erskine New Trio) - 2016
Hand in Hand (duet with Tatiana Parra) - 2016
As Autumn Departs (duet with Ji Park) - 2015
Lighthouse (duet with Tatiana Parra) - 2014
Dreaming Paris Theme and Variations (VOCE) - 2013
Now (duet with Joon Lee) - 2012
Chromaticity - 2012
Nocturnal Prophecy (duet with John O’Gallagher) – 2011
Joy Luck (Peter Erskine New Trio) - 2011
Mirror Exercises (book) – published in 2011
VOCE (Vardan Ovsepian Chamber Ensemble) - 2006
Recordings on the Fresh Sound, New Talent label [Barcelona, Spain] include:
Points North (Vardan Ovsepian Quintet) - 2013
Aragast (Vardan Ovsepian Quartet) - 2006
Akunc (Vardan Ovsepian Quintet) - 2004
Sketch Book (Vardan Ovsepian Quintet) - 2002
Abandoned Wheel (solo piano) – 2001
Languages
Fluent in English, Armenian and Russian
References
Available upon request
