Introducing the Elixir Trio
Lucy Nargizyan, Pianist
Described as “a pianist with fluent grace, beautiful tone, great technique and presence,” Lucy Nargizyan has been featured as soloist and collaborative pianist throughout the United States, England, Wales, Austria, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Canada, Mexico and Russia. Her performances were broadcasted on Russian Radio and Television as well as on Classical KUSC Radio.
Dr. Nargizyan is the winner of the Moscow Young Artist Competition, MTAC Piano Duo Competition in San Diego, the Armenian Allied Arts Association Competition, Eleventh Annual Piano Ensemble Festival in Fullerton, Los Angeles Liszt Competition, USC Concerto Competition, and the Peninsula Young Artists International Festival. She was also the finalist in the Mu Phi Epsilon National Competition. Among Lucy’s other honors are the Los Concenieros and El Camino College awards, USC Friends of Armenian Music and Jane Kenneth Memorial Scholarships. Dr. Nargizyan was the winner of “Most Distinguished Musician Award” at the 2005 IBLA International Competition in Italy, where she performed with the Elixir Piano Trio.
Lucy Nargizyan was raised in Moscow, Russia. She began playing the piano at the age of six with professor Valentina Kochkina. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Moscow State Music College, a Masters of Music Degree and a Doctorate Degree in Piano Performance from the University of Southern California. She has studied with Daniel Pollack, Kevin Fitz-Gerald, Dennis Thurmond and Irina Manamshian.
Dr. Nargizyan is a dedicated teacher whose students have been prizewinners in many local and state competitions. In addition, her students have transferred to such institutions as USC and Cleveland Institute of Music. Currently, Dr. Nargizyan is an Assistant Professor of Music at East Los Angeles College.
Fang Fang Xu, Cellist
Dr. Xu learned her Doctoral degree in Cello Performance from the University of Southern California. She has performed at Schleswig-Holstein International Music Festival in Germany and Guadalajara Music Festival in Mexico with eminent conductors Christoph Eschenbach and Mstislav Rostropovich. She has appeared as guest soloist with the Pacific Symphony and USC Thornton Symphony among others, and as an orchestral player she has performed with LA Philharmonic and LA Chamber Orchestra.
She made her Carnegie Hall debut in June of 2010, as solo cellist in the production of Eric Whitacre’s Paradise Lost. In Spring of 2011, Dr. Xu was again featured in the production at Disney Hall in Los Angeles. She currently maintains a private studio in South Pasadena, and serves as the String Chair of MTAC Pasadena Branch.
Samvel Chilingarian, Violinist
Mr. Chilingarian enjoys a varied career as performer, educator and conductor. An avid chamber musician, Mr. Chilingarian has toured extensively throughout Europe, Japan, the United States and Central America with The Melos Ensemble, Vienna Sinfonietta, Orchestra Internazionale d´Italia, Tashen Oper and Ensemble Nine.
Mr. Chilingarian has performed in such prestigious venues as the Musikverein in Vienna, Teatro di San Carlo in Napoli, Teatro Farnese in Parma, Casals Hall in Tokyo, Birmingham Performing Arts Center in England. As a founding member of the Arioso String Quartet, he has toured Austria giving concerts in Vienna, Krems and Salzkammergut.
A native of Armenia, Mr. Chilingarian began his musical studies at age five. After receiving a Bachelor of Music from the California State University at Northridge and a Master of Music from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, Mr. Chilingarian moved to Vienna in 1990 to continue his studies in authentic performance and conducting. While in Vienna, Mr. Chilingarian joined the Pons Artis Chamber Orchestra, the Kammer Oper Orchestra, the Niederosterrichische Tonkunstler Orchestra. In 1994 Mr. Chilingarian was invited to conduct the Linz Summer Festival Youth Orchestra.
Since his return to L.A., Mr. Chilingarian´s focus has been to bring spirited and passionate music to young musicians. Mr. Chilingarian is the Artistic Director and conductor of Verdugo Young Musicians Association (VYMA). In 2007, VYMA was invited by the Los Angeles Philharmonic to perform at Walt Disney Concert Hall as part of the International Youth Orchestra Festival. Mr. Chilingarian actively participates with the Los Angeles Philharmonic YOLA initiative as guest speaker and panelist.
Mr. Chilingarian has been featured on the Sundays Live radio broadcast Classical 105.1 K-Mozart as well as on 91.5 KUSC “Spotlight on The Arts”. Mr. Chilingarian serves on the faculty of East Los Angeles College and continues to perform with the Elixir Piano Trio.
