Gohar Vardanyan, a native of Yerevan, Armenia, began studying guitar at the age of five with her father, once famous guitarist Vardan Vardanyan. She gave her first performance and appeared on Armenian National Television at the age of eight. Two years later she was the 1st prize winner in the Armenian national music contest “Amadeus†for young musicians. As a result she was accepted into a group of talented young musicians, called “New Names.†Ms. Vardanyan has participated in various benefit and private concerts in Armenia and performed as a guest in many musical schools of the Republic.
At thirteen years old she came to New York City to study with Antigoni Goni at the Pre-College Division of the Juilliard School. In 2001, Ms. Vardanyan studied with John Wunsch at the Interlochen Arts Academy. She graduated with High Honors in 2004. Two years later, Ms. Vardanyan was invited back by the Academy as an alumni artist in their annual Guitar Institute. She has received numerous awards in academic and musical fields. Among these is the Young Artist’s Certificate, one of the highest awards offered to graduating seniors by the Academy, and the Harold Randolph Prize in performance from the Peabody Conservatory. She has attended many Master Classes with internationally-known guitarists such as Nicolas Goluses, William Kanengiser, Raphaella Smits, Julian Gray, Sharon Isbin, Steven Robinson, Jason Vieaux, David Russell and Manuel Barrueco. She has performed on National Public Radio on the program “From the Top,†as a soloist with the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra, and on Peabody’s Thursday Noon series. Ms. Vardanyan holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music where she studied with Manuel Barrueco. She is also a recent alumna of the Aspen Music Festival and School. Currently, Ms. Vardanyan is pursuing a Master of Music degree at the Juilliard School under the tutelage of Sharon Isbin.
