Ovanes Arakelyan

Education
BM, Piano Performance, USC
MA, Instrumental Performance, California State University, Fresno
DMA, Music (instrumental performance), Claremont Graduate University

Ovanes Arakelyan began his musical studies in Armenia, and later in Russia. He moved to the United States and pursued his studies in Southern California earning a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Southern California, a Master’s degree from CSUF and a Doctorate degree from Claremont Graduate University.

After obtaining his MA, he moved back to Los Angeles where he obtained a Doctorate Degree in Musical Arts in 2015 from Claremont Graduate University under the tutelage of Dr. Stewart Gordon. At CGU he conducted original research on the piano music of Armenian composers. Dr. Arakelyan has had numerous performances throughout the United States and abroad, reaching concert stages, such as Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and the Ford Amphitheatre, among many California colleges presenting various lecture recitals.

From Fall, 2016 he has been teaching numerous classes at Glendale Community College, including class piano, keyboard harmony, applied and chamber music. From 2020 he began teaching at Ventura College and Oxnard College, where he has taught class and applied piano, music fundamentals, understanding music and dance for the elementary instructor and rock history.

Most recently, since August of 2024, Arakelyan has begun teaching at Saddleback College, Moorpark College as well as Cerro Coso Community College. He also teaches incarcerated students at a California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi through the Cerro Coso College prisoner program.