Haig Hovsepian

Armenian-American violinist, Haig Hovsepian "belongs to a select group of the most gifted musicians of his generation” (violinist, Ilya Kaler).
Hovsepian began his musical journey at a very young age. At four, he was already playing violin, at eight - the Sh'vi (Armenian fipple flute), and at eleven - the saxophone. Those instruments became the means of his musical expression reflecting his upbringing - deeply rooted in traditional classical training, his Armenian heritage, and American jazz. This unique blend shaped him into the versatile musician that he is today.

Despite his young age, Hovsepian is already enjoying a multifaceted career that has taken him across the US, to Canada, Norway, Iceland, Armenia, and to the stages of Carnegie Hall, Koussevitzky Music Shed, Jordan Hall, Slosberg Hall, and Killian Hall, among others. As a saxophone player, he has appeared in various jazz clubs, Mechanics Hall, and Boston’s Symphony Hall. Whether performing a violin concerto, chamber music, or in a jazz jam session, Hovsepian feels genuinely at ease connecting with his audiences with sincere artistry and poise.

As a prestigious Max Reger Ambassador prize winner at New England Conservatory's Preparatory division, Hovsepian moved on to become a recipient of several scholarship awards at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he graduated with his Bachelor's and Master's degrees studying under one of the world's most outstanding violin personalities, Ilya Kaler.
Among his distinguished teachers are also Ivan Zenaty, Angelo Xiang Yu, Lynn Chang, Hamayak Dourgarian, and Kyoko Horowitz. Hovsepian owes his steady professional growth to mentors, such as Mihaela Martin, Alvaro Parra, Philip Setzer, Dover String Quartet, David Coucheron and others, with whom he had the privilege to work with in numerous master classes and music festivals (Meadowmount School of Music, Heifetz International Music Institute, Boston Music Institute, and Leonard Bernstein Festival of the Arts).

At the age of eleven, Hovsepian won his first international competition - "Classival" (Canada), followed by "Young Promise" (USA), "Renaissance" (Armenia), and preceded by several local competition prizes (Massachusetts Music Teachers' Association, "Armenian Youth Talent"). An array of Concerto Competition wins launched his orchestral debuts with Waltham Philharmonic, Nashua Chamber, Concord Orchestra, and the Youth Orchestra of New England Conservatory. This was culminated by his engagement with the acclaimed Boston Pops Orchestra and Maestro Keith Lockhart at Symphony Hall.

Featured by local newspapers, radio, and television, Hovsepian was invited more than once to appear on National Public Radio's From the Top program both as a soloist and in several music videos. Countless performances were dedicated to charitable events helping raise money for various causes (e.g. Belmont Media's "Gifts of Hope" Telethon, Joslin Diabetes Center, “Armenian Music for Peace,” “5pm Series,” and others).

At his young age of 24, Haig Hovsepian is an artist who is dedicated to promoting music of various genres at the crossroads of cultures, forms, and styles.