Edgar Oganesyan

Edgar Oganesyan (1930–1998) was an Armenian composer, professor and rector of the Yerevan State Conservatory (1986–91), People's Artist of the USSR (1986) and laureate of the State Prize of the USSR (1979). He graduated from the Yerevan Conservatory in 1953 after studying composition with Grigory Egiazaryan. Oganesyan was a postgraduate student of Aram Khatchaturian and received his PhD degree from the Moscow Conservatory in 1957. Widely considered among the most influential Armenian composers of the 20th century, Edgar Oganesyan wrote numerous symphonic works, ballets, vocal-orchestral works, film music, and experimented with other genres, including neo-classical, folk music and even jazz. He was an artistic director of Armenian Folk Song And Dance Ensemble (1970–74) and Armenian TV And Radio Chamber Choir (1979–85). Name variations: Edgar Hovhannisyan, Edgar Hovhannisian, Edgar Oganesian, Эдгар Сергеевич Оганесян, Էդգար Հովհաննիսյան