Sahenik Maghakyan

Sahenik Maghakyan is a pianist, accompanist, and professor at the Yerevan State Conservatory named after Komitas. She is the author of the unique book “Concertmasters of Armenia” and numerous articles in the magazine “Musical Armenia” and the newspaper “Musician”, author of the column “Accompanists of Armenia” in the magazine “Musical Armenia” (2016-2018).

Sahenik Maghakyan is the first performer, pianist-accompanist of the mono-operas “Hope” or “The Fatal Prophecy” (soloist Margarita Hovsepyan) and “Armenia” (second edition, soloist Hasmik Baghdasaryan-Dolukhanyan),  pieces for trumpet and piano  “In Memory of Charles Aznavour” (soloist A. Mailyan) by Sofa Aznauryan;  “Noveletta” and “Burlesque” for bassoon and piano by Geghuni Chitchyan (soloist G. Mailyan). S. Maghakyan took part in the anniversary concerts of composers: People’s artist of Armenia Geghuni Chitchyan in 2019 and Sofa Aznauryan (2009 and 2019).

Some quotes about the pianist, accompanist S. Maghakyan:

Margarita Rukhkyan, Doctor of Arts, Honored worker of Arts of Armenia: “Pianist Sahenik Maghakyan proved herself to be a subtle ensemble player who caught and expressed the distinctive emotional touches and accents of a complex piece.” (“A Premiere That Became an Event”, magazine “Musical Armenia”, 2004, No. 3-4)

Alexander Naumenko, singer, People’s artist of the Russian Federation, soloist of the Bolshoi Theatre: “The mono-opera by S. Aznauryan, ‘Hope’ or ‘The Fatal Prophecy’ made a strong impression. The powerful, extraordinary talent of soprano Margarita Hovsepyan and her colleague in the ensemble, pianist Sahenik Maghakyan, was fully reflected here. Power and energy were combined in this work with subtle nuances, lightness, and virtuosic accuracy. This wonderful union can solve the highest artistic tasks.” (L. Matevosyan, “Confession of the Heart”, magazine “Musical Armenia” 2010 №1)

Mikhail Agin, singer, professor, Honored artist of the Russian Federation: “I would like to say the warmest words about the pianist Sahenik Maghakyan. She is a true master of her craft. It seems to me that singing with such a professional is a pleasure. And as a soloist, she showed herself on the best side.” (ibid.) 

Yuri Balyan, trumpeter, professor, Honored artist of Armenia: “Sahenik Maghakyan invariably demonstrates the professional qualities of a true accompanist, helping the soloist to declare his creative individuality. I consider it important to note S. Maghakyan’s high professionalism as an accompanist. Her playing is technically harmonious and easy, at the same time emotionally expressive and academic”. 

Lilit Yepremyan, PhD of Arts, Associate Professor: “Sahenik Maghakyan is a great master, as we have seen more than once while listening to her performances” (Musical Armenia magazine, 2018, No. 1 ). Her another quote was written after performing the mono-opera “Hope” or “Fatal Prophecy” with the soprano Artsvik Demurchyan: “I would especially like to note the professionalism of the pianist-accompanist Sahenik Maghakyan, who seemed to be the conductor of the musical part, its support and basis” (M. Kirakosyan “Fatal Prophecy” by S. Aznauryan”, newspaper “Efir” No. 45, 02.11.2023).

Several quotes about the book “Accompanists of Armenia” by S. Maghakyan:

Armen Budaghyan, professor, Honored worker of arts of Armenia: «The position of Sahenik Maghakyan in many areas is always important to me, and she is everywhere. She has experience as a writer, which she summarized and turned into the book “Accompanists of Armenia.” (2018)

Svetlana Navasardyan, pianist, professor, People’s Artist of Armenia: “A book that is unique in concept by Sahenik Maghakyan… Another gap in the history of Armenian musical performance is being closed and the book in this sense is a valuable acquisition, a wonderful gift to those who, under the modest line “the piano part is performed by” discover the amazing world of a co-creative and empathetic artist, without whom the great Sacrament of Music will not take place” (book “Accompanists of Armenia” p.6).

Vladilen Balyan, composer, People’s Artist of Armenia: «I welcome this work, I am surprised and delighted. I am grateful to Sahenik Maghakyan for many years of fruitful work. A huge amount of information has been captured, and many remarkable names have risen from oblivion. I shake Sahenik’s hand firmly, wish her the best, enthusiasm, and great professional demands on herself in her wonderful work.» (ibid.)

Villi Sargsyan, pianist, professor, Honored Artist of Armenia: «This is an unprecedented work.» (Newspaper «Voice of Armenia», article by N. Gomtsyan «Accompanists of Armenia» 13.12.2018)

Natalia Gomtsyan, journalist: “Maghakyan has fully achieved her main goal — to revive in the reader’s soul the images of musicians-accompanists, their unique charm and the peculiarities of their performing art. Reading a book rich in the finest shades of feelings, perfect in style, you are convinced of the professional merits of the author, his maturity” (ibid.)

Maghakyan was born on March 26, 1963, in Yerevan in a family of music lovers — engineer Hakob Maghakyan and famous neonatologist Margarita Tibukhyan. 

Since childhood, Sahenik demonstrated bright musical talent — she would come home from kindergarten, sit down at the instrument, play with both hands, and sing songs she learned there. In 1969, Sahenik was accepted to the preparatory group of the ten-year music school named after Tchaikovsky. It turned out that the girl had perfect pitch and an excellent memory. Her first teacher was the famous pianist Garry Ayvazyan.

At school, Sahenik distinguished herself by her active participation in reporting and thematic concerts. She played solo concerts starting from the 3rd grade (pieces by R. Schumann and S. Prokofiev), in the 4th and 5th grades she played 13 two-part inventions by I.S. Bach, waltzes and nocturnes by F. Chopin; solo concerts in the 7th, 8th and 10th grades in the hall of the Union of Composers of Armenia.

When Sahenik entered the 9th grade, G. Ayvazyan was appointed director of the R. Melikyan Music College. Due to a lack of time for classes at school, he suggested continuing her studies at the college he ran. Her parents did not want to change their daughter’s school, where she was loved, and she loved her teachers and friends. Then, G. Ayvazyan asked the conservatory professor, Villy Sargsyan, to accept his favorite student into his class. 

Professor V. Sargsyan’s classes became a new stage in her development as a pianist and musician. 

In 1981, Sahenik graduated from the P. Tchaikovsky School with a gold medal and, having brilliantly passed the entrance exam in her specialty, entered the Yerevan State Conservatory. 

An unexpected new page opened in her biography: the student was immediately noticed by Doctor of Historical Sciences, professor, Head of the Department of Social Sciences — Isabella Tamrazova. Every year, she was chosen to participate in the annual republican social science competitions, where S. Maghakyan invariably received first place. She became a prize winner from Armenia at the All-Union Competition in Philosophy among Universities and the All-Union Olympiad in Esthetics in Tbilisi (based on the results of two rounds). Philosophy professor, Associate Professor Genrikh Grigryan offered her to continue her studies at the Philosophy Department of the State University.

After graduating from the conservatory, S. Maghakyan taught at the music school No. 13 named after A. Hekimyan (1986-2007), where she always participated in concerts of teachers and held class concerts.

In 1993, Yuri Balyan, professor and head of the wind instruments department of the Yerevan Conservatory, offered S. Maghakyan the position of accompanist at the Conservatory. So she became an accompanist in the classes of professors, Honored Artists of Armenia: Y. Balyan (trumpet), Ch. Babayan (oboe), G. Arshakyan (horn). Currently, Maghakyan works in the classes of bassoon (professor G. Mailyan), trumpet (associate professor A. Mailyan) and oboe (Senior teacher A. Ghazaryan). 

Over the years, as a concertmaster, she has participated in international competitions and festivals, in republican (including the 2016-2017 Armenian Presidential Competition), in class, solo, and thematic concerts. Her brilliant accompaniment has always been recognized with diplomas for best accompanist.

From 1994 to 2009 Maghakyan worked as a singer in the State Academic Choir of Armenia. She mastered a huge choral repertoire (participated in all the group’s tours), which brought new knowledge and nuances to her teaching career and work with vocalists.

1999-2001 were the years of postgraduate studies in the Concertmaster’s Department in the class of Professor Ziline Zakaryan.

Since 2003, Sahenik Maghakyan has been teaching at the Concertmaster’s Department of the Yerevan State Conservatory. 

Since 2009, she has been teaching at the Specialized Secondary Music School named after Tchaikovsky. Over the years, her students and pupils have played solo concerts and performed in her class concerts, participated in republican and international competitions, festivals and were awarded the titles of laureates and diploma winners. Today, many of her students teach and work as accompanists in musical institutions.

For 10 years, S. Maghakyan performed in tandem with the soprano laureate of the international competition, Professor Margarita Hovsepyan. Together they performed numerous solo concerts dedicated to the works of P. Tchaikovsky, S. Rachmaninoff, and other composers, performed vocal cycles of M. Tariverdiev, S. Slonimsky, G. Sviridov, L. Chaushyan, V. Babayan, and S. Aznauryan. They repeatedly performed in the halls of the Russian Embassy in Armenia, the House of Moscow, and the House-Museum of A. Khachaturian, Armenian Society of Cultural Relations, named after A. Babajanyan. They took part in concerts of the Armenian Musical Assembly, performing cycles of V. Babayan and L. Chaushyan. Together, they recorded CDs.

In 2004, with soprano M. Hovsepyan, they performed the premiere of S. Aznauryan’s mono-opera «Hope or Fatal Prophecy». They performed it several times in Yerevan, as well as in Moscow in the program of a solo concert in the hall of the Gnessin Music Academy at the invitation of the Moscow City Hall (they were awarded a Certificate of Gratitude in 2009). 

Another remarkable page of S. Maghakyan’s biography: in 2014, she presented, sang, and accompanied herself with scenes from the new opera for children by S. Aznauryan, “The Adventures of Chikareli” (in the hall of the Union of Composers of Armenia). After the audition, it was approved for production at the National Opera and Ballet Theatre by the artistic director, People’s Artist of Armenia, Gegham Grigoryan.

In 2013, S. Maghakyan received the title of associate professor, and in 2021, the title of professor.

In 2018, the book “Concertmasters of Armenia” (Yerevan, “Lusakn”, 2018, Editor A. Budaghyan)  was published, which took 6 years of hard work. The idea of ​​writing this book belongs to Armen Budaghyan. After reading several of Maghakyan’s articles, he suggested this topic for research and provided her with certain material. Budaghyan became the editor of this publication, which had a strong resonance, since there was no similar literature about pianist-accompanists. Today, the book is in many conservatory libraries in the countries of the former Soviet Union and Europe.

In 2020, at the request of S. Maghakyan, composer, Honored worker of arts of Armenia, Levon Chaushyan wrote (for the Concertmasters Competition named after Yelena Ter-Ghevondyan) an extended piece “Nvirum” (“Dedication”) for oboe and piano and dedicated it to her. The piece has been performed repeatedly and has become part of the repertoire.

Among her stage partners are soloists of the National Opera and Ballet Theatre, singers Margarita Hovsepyan, Roza Hovsepyan, Artsvik Demurchyan; soloists of the National Philharmonic Orchestra of the Republic of Armenia: oboists  Harutyun Shakhkyan,  Hovhannes Papikyan, bassoonist Harry Mailyan, trumpeters  Armen Mailyan,  Azat Gasparyan. As well as oboist Hakob Gasparyan (Switzerland), trumpeters Hayk Gurgenyan (Switzerland), Yervand Margaryan (UAE), Tigran Harutyunyan, and many others. 

Since 2020, S. Maghakyan has been organizing annual class concerts with her students and pupils dedicated to famous pianists-accompanists A. Hakobyan (for the 100th anniversary of the Yerevan State Conservatory), Sh. Zakaryan (100th anniversary), E. Khosrovyan, O. Vagengeym, A. Doluhanyan. She intends to continue this series of concerts.