Slava Grigoryan
Encyclopedia
Slava Grigoryan is an Australian classical guitar
ist and recording artist of Armenian
heritage.
He was born in Kazakhstan
to Eduard and Irina Grigoryan, both professional violin
ists. His family emigrated to Australia
in 1981 and he was raised in Melbourne
. Grigoryan began to study guitar with his father at the age of seven. By the age of twelve he was already performing professionally and he made his solo debut in Sydney
at fourteen. He attended St Michael's Grammar School
during which time he studied with Ron Payne, and the Victorian College of the Arts
.
Following his win at the Tokyo International Classical Guitar Competition, Grigoryan was signed by Sony Music Entertainment
in 1995 for whom he released four solo albums. Since then he has toured extensively in Europe, North America and Asia, making his New York
debut in 1997.
He changed labels
to ABC Classics Australia in 2001 and has subsequently released a further solo album and an album recorded with his younger brother Leonard Grigoryan. He has also joined with fellow Australian musicians Anthony Field, Karin Schaupp
and Gareth Koch
to release albums under the group name Saffire
.
He has won a number of awards including Young Australian of the Year for the Arts in 1998, the Mo award
for Instrumentalist of the Year in 2001, and the ARIA
for Best Classical Album in 2002
(solo) and 2003
(as part of Saffire).
Classical guitar
The classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
ist and recording artist of Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
heritage.
He was born in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
to Eduard and Irina Grigoryan, both professional violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ists. His family emigrated to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in 1981 and he was raised in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. Grigoryan began to study guitar with his father at the age of seven. By the age of twelve he was already performing professionally and he made his solo debut in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
at fourteen. He attended St Michael's Grammar School
St Michael's Grammar School
St Michael's Grammar School is a co-educational independent day school located in St Kilda, Victoria, Australia.The school was founded in 1895 by the Community of the Sisters of the Church and is associated with the Anglican Church of Australia. St Michael's is located on a single campus, its...
during which time he studied with Ron Payne, and the Victorian College of the Arts
Victorian College of the Arts
The Faculty of the VCA and Music is a faculty of the University of Melbourne, in Victoria . VCAM is located near the Melbourne central business district, on two campuses, one - the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music - on the Parkville campus of the University of Melbourne, and the other - the...
.
Following his win at the Tokyo International Classical Guitar Competition, Grigoryan was signed by Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment
Sony Music Entertainment ' is the second-largest global recorded music company of the "big four" record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America, the United States subsidiary of Japan's Sony Corporation....
in 1995 for whom he released four solo albums. Since then he has toured extensively in Europe, North America and Asia, making his New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
debut in 1997.
He changed labels
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
to ABC Classics Australia in 2001 and has subsequently released a further solo album and an album recorded with his younger brother Leonard Grigoryan. He has also joined with fellow Australian musicians Anthony Field, Karin Schaupp
Karin Schaupp
Karin Schaupp is a German-born Australian classical guitarist and actress.She was born in 1972 in Hofheim am Taunus, Germany, to a musical family. Her mother and principal teacher, Isolde Schaupp, was a teacher of guitar at the Conservatorium of Wiesbaden. Her father was an amateur pianist, and her...
and Gareth Koch
Gareth Koch
Gareth Koch is an Australian classical guitarist and recording artist of German/Anglo Irish/Lithuanian heritage.He was born in Milan to Christopher Koch and Irene Vilnonis. Christopher Koch is a renown Australian novelist. Irene was a Conservatorium trained pianist. Gareth was raised in...
to release albums under the group name Saffire
Saffire (music)
Saffire: The Australian Guitar Quartet is an Australian classical music group, consisting of Karin Schaupp, Slava Grigoryan, Gareth Koch, and Leonard Grigoryan Saffire: The Australian Guitar Quartet is an Australian classical music group, consisting of Karin Schaupp, Slava Grigoryan, Gareth Koch,...
.
He has won a number of awards including Young Australian of the Year for the Arts in 1998, the Mo award
Mo Awards
The Mo Awards are long running annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia....
for Instrumentalist of the Year in 2001, and the ARIA
ARIA Music Awards
The Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards is an annual series of awards nights celebrating the Australian music industry, put on by the Australian Recording Industry Association...
for Best Classical Album in 2002
ARIA Music Awards of 2002
The 16th Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards were held on 15 October 2002 at the Sydney SuperDome.-ARIA Awards:...
(solo) and 2003
ARIA Music Awards of 2003
The 17th Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards were held on 21 October 2003 at the Sydney Superdome.-ARIA Awards:*Album of the Year**Powderfinger – Vulture Street...
(as part of Saffire).