Now regarded as one of the finest cellists of the younger generation, Alexander Chaushian has performed extensively throughout the world as a soloist with orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia, the Academy of St Martin-in- the-Fields, The London Mozart Players, The Vienna Chamber Orchestra, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, The Boston Pops and The Armenian Philharmonic, and has given highly acclaimed performances in such venues as London’s Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Wigmore Hall, Sala Verdi Milan, Konzerthaus Vienna, Suntory Hall Japan, the main Carnegie Hall New York, and Symphony Hall Boston.
He performs regularly in festivals throughout the world and is the Artistic Director of the International Pharos Chamber Music Festival in Cyprus and the Yerevan Music Festival in Armenia.
After initial studies in Armenia, Alexander Chaushian studied in the UK at the Menuhin School and the Guildhall School, London. He then pursued advanced studies at the Hochschule Berlin, graduating with distinction in 2005. He is a laureate prize winner of many international competitions including the 12th International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow and the ARD Competition in Germany. As an alumnus of Young Concert Artists, New York, he toured extensively in the USA.
Amongst the many distinguished musicians whom he has collaborated with are Yehudi Menuhin, Julia Fischer, Levon Chilingirian, Yuri Bashmet, Diemut Poppen, François-Frédéric Guy, Emmanuel Pahud. His regular chamber music partner is Yevgeny Sudbin.
For many years, pianist Itamar Golan has been praised for his passion and exceptional gift for music, which has led to a life of collaboration on the most prestigious stages around the world. His regular performance partners have included Janine Jansen, Vadim Repin, Mischa Maisky, Julian Rachlin, Shlomo Mintz, Maxim Vengerov, Charlie Siem and David Grimal. He has also appeared with Martha Argerich, Gil Shaham, Ivry Gitlis, Sharon Kam and Martin Fröst, among many others.
Golan is also dedicated to inspiring and mentoring future generations of artists. As a distinguished professor of chamber music at the Paris Conservatoire, he brings poetry and profound insight to the discussion of musical artistry and performance. Festival invitations include Verbier, Salzburg, Lucerne, Ravinia and Tanglewood. He has made many recordings for Deutsche Grammophon, Warner Classics, Decca, EMI and Sony Classical, as well as countless others for smaller, independent labels.
His orchestral collaborations have included the Israel and Berlin Philharmonics with Zubin Mehta, Vienna Philharmonic and Orchestra Filarmonica della Scala under Riccardo Muti, and the Philharmonia Orchestra with Lorin Maazel.
Born in Vilnius, Lithuania, Golan emigrated with his parents to Israel when he was a year old. His passion for chamber music was ignited by his mentor, the violinist Chaim Taub, and he studied piano with Lara Vodovoz and Emanuel Krasovsky under the auspices of the American-Israel Cultural Foundation. In 1991, Golan became the youngest musician to be appointed to the faculty of Manhattan School of Music. He later moved to Paris, where he resides today. When not traveling or making music, he can be found immersed in literature, visual art, and food, frequenting cinemas and bookshops, or inventing in his kitchen. He finds what might be considered reverie to be a burning reality within him.