PRINCESS OF WALES
Princess of Wales-1/64th Armenian! The most widely known living person in the world before the fatal car accident, she was well loved for not being aloof. She made removal of landmines worldwide her cause.
Her Armenian ancestry is traced to Eliza Kewark (an Armenian lady from India).Eliza Kewark, married the Scottish merchant, Theodore Forbes. From this union was born Kathleen Scott Forbes who married James Crombie from Aberdeen. They had a daughter Jane who married David Littlejohn and their daughter Ruth married William Gill. Ruth Sylvia Gill, the grandmother of Lady Diana, married Lord Fermoy and their daughter, Frances Ruth Burke Roach married the 8th Earl of Spencer who is the father of Lady Diana.
It is noteworthy that Eliza Kewark was also referred to as "Mrs. Forbesian" (a characteristic ending of Armenian surnames).
VIOLINIST
Levon Chilingirian OBE (born 28 May 1948) is a UK-based violinist. The founder of the Chilingirian Quartet, he is also a professor at the Royal College of Music in London and is musical director of Camerata Nordica, a Swedish chamber orchestra. He is also artistic director of the Mendelssohn on Mull festival.
Born to Armenian parents in Nicosia, Cyprus, Chilingirian began playing the violin when he was five, being taught by his uncle. He came to Britain when he was 12 and studied at the Royal College of Music. He won first prize in the BBC Beethoven and the Munich Duo competitions in 1969 and 1971 respectively.
In 1971 he founded the Chilingirian Quartet, which has developed a strong association with a number of composers, including John Tavener and Michael Berkeley. He was also one of the first members of The English Concert, and played in their first London concert in 1973.The Chilingirian Quartet hold an annual summer school at West Dean College.
In addition to teaching, playing and recording, Chilingirian’s interest in the work of Edvard Grieg led to his own version of the composer's incomplete Quartet in F major.
In the 2000 New Year Honours list, Chilingirian was awarded the Order of the British Empire for services to music.
COSMO JARVIS
Levon Chilingirian OBE (born 28 May 1948) is a UK-based violinist. The founder of the Chilingirian Quartet, he is also a professor at the Royal College of Music in London and is musical director of Camerata Nordica, a Swedish chamber orchestra. He is also artistic director of the Mendelssohn on Mull festival.
Born to Armenian parents in Nicosia, Cyprus, Chilingirian began playing the violin when he was five, being taught by his uncle. He came to Britain when he was 12 and studied at the Royal College of Music. He won first prize in the BBC Beethoven and the Munich Duo competitions in 1969 and 1971 respectively.
In 1971 he founded the Chilingirian Quartet, which has developed a strong association with a number of composers, including John Tavener and Michael Berkeley. He was also one of the first members of The English Concert, and played in their first London concert in 1973.The Chilingirian Quartet hold an annual summer school at West Dean College.
In addition to teaching, playing and recording, Chilingirian’s interest in the work of Edvard Grieg led to his own version of the composer's incomplete Quartet in F major.
In the 2000 New Year Honours list, Chilingirian was awarded the Order of the British Empire for services to music.
SINGER
Harrison Cosmo Krikoryan Jarvis (born September 1, 1989), better known by his stage name Cosmo Jarvis, is an English singer-songwriter and filmmaker. In early 2008 he signed to indie label Wall of Sound and his debut album Humasyouhitch/Sonofabitch was released on 16 November 2009. His first official single "She's Got You" received airplay on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2 as well as being amongst NME's "10 Tracks You Have to Hear This Week". Stephen Fry called "Gay Pirates", Jarvis' fourth single, "wonderful" and put a link to its video on his Twitter feed. Between 2008 and 2010 he performed shows alongside acts including Muse, Gabriella Cilmi, Gym Class Heroes, Panic at the Disco, The Sunshine Underground, Reverend and the Makers and The Holloways.
MUSICIAN
John Graham Mellor (21 August 1952 – 22 December 2002), best remembered by his stage name Joe Strummer, was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of the British punk rock band The Clash. His musical experience included his membership in The 101ers, Latino Rockabilly War, The Mescaleros and The Pogues, in addition to his own solo music career. Strummer's work as a musician allowed him to explore other interests, which included acting, creating film scores for television and movies, songwriting, radio broadcasting, and a position as a radio host. Strummer is one of the most iconic figures of the British punk movement.
Joe Strummer and The Clash were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in January 2003. In his remembrance, Strummer's friends and family have established the Strummerville Foundation for the promotion of new music, and each year there are many festivals and both organised and spontaneous ceremonies worldwide to celebrate his memory.
ANDY SERKIS
ACTOR
Andrew Clement G. "Andy" Serkis (born 20 April 1964) is a British actor, director and author of Armenian descent. He is popularly known for playing (through motion capture) Gollum in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, for which he earned several award nominations, including the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. He also played the title role in the 2005 King Kong remake and earned aGolden Globe Award nomination for his portrayal of Ian Brady in the British television film Longford.
Serkis plays Caesar in the 2011 film Rise of the Planet of the Apes.Serkis will also co-star as Captain Haddock in the upcoming The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn film. In 2012, he will reprise the role of Gollum for The Hobbit.
Many of Serkis' most prominent roles, including those in Lord of the Rings, King Kong and Rise of the Planet of the Apes, have involved him being the subject of motion capture to animate and voice a computer generated character.
Serkis plays Caesar in the 2011 film Rise of the Planet of the Apes.Serkis will also co-star as Captain Haddock in the upcoming The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn film. In 2012, he will reprise the role of Gollum for The Hobbit.
Many of Serkis' most prominent roles, including those in Lord of the Rings, King Kong and Rise of the Planet of the Apes, have involved him being the subject of motion capture to animate and voice a computer generated character.
ROLAND MANOOKIAN
ACTOR
Roland Manookian (Born 1979) is an English actor of Armenian descent, who is most notable for his role as Zebedee, in the 2004 film The Football Factory, and as Craig Rolfe in Rise of the Footsoldier in 2007. He has also appeared in Guy Richie's Rocknrolla and Nick Love's Goodbye Charlie Brightand The Business. Roland comes from London England.
Manookian has also appeared in episodes of The Bill in 1999 as Ben Glover. He has supported Millwall
since he was a boy.
Manookian has also appeared in episodes of The Bill in 1999 as Ben Glover. He has supported Millwall
since he was a boy.
KEV ORKIAN
COMEDIAN
Kev Orkian is a British-Armenian musician, comedian and actor born in London to Armenian parents. He has performed around the world from New York,Los Angeles and Toronto to Dubai, Oman and Australia. Orkian has been compared to the likes of Victor Borge and Dudley Moore.
Between 2003 and 2009, Kev Orkian spent a lot of his time touring the UK as the support act for some of the biggest names in British comedy and has previously starred in West-End London musicals including Fame, Happy Days and Boogie Nights alongside Dancing on Ice winner and Emmerdaleactress Hayley Tamaddon.
In 2009 Kev Orkian became a regular on the UK comedy circuit performing at well-known clubs such as Jongleurs where his comedy rendition of Elton John's I'm Still Standing has been described as Comedy Gold, and has generated standing ovations.
On September 23, 2009 Event Magazine reported that Kev Orkian won the final of 'The Next Big Thing' - the event industry's version of The X Factor, which was held at Event UK in Birmingham.
On Thursday 10 June 2010, Kev Orkian performed for HRH The Prince Philip, celebrating his 89th birthday at the Guards Polo Club. The event fell behind schedule and Prince Philip was set to leave – before Kev got on stage – to get to another engagement. But as soon as Kev started his sketch the Prince decided to sit back down and watch the full act. So impressed was he that instead of rushing off at the end he stayed even longer to congratulate Kev in person. Prince Philip was quoted as saying “It’s a wonderful show. I thoroughly enjoyed your performance”.
Also in June 2010, Kev Orkian performed a live comedy 'sketch' with opera diva Katherine Jenkins for a private birthday party at which Motown legend Lionel Richie also performed, along with the NSO (National Symphony Orchestra) and comedians Bobby Davro and Jethro. The comedy routine was an updated version of an old Victor Borge sketch which Kev Orkian had developed with Katherine Jenkins.
ANAHID KASSABIAN
PROFESSOR OF MUSIC
Anahid Kassabian is James and Constance Alsop Chair of Music at the University of Liverpool; she was previously Associate Professor of Media Studies at Fordham University. Her research and teaching focus on film music, ubiquitous music, disciplinarity, and listening.
She received her Ph.D. in Modern Thought and Litereature from Stanford University, and went on to teach at universities in New York and California. She has served on faculties of Women's Studies, Literary Studies, and Communication and Media Studies.
She is a past editor of Stanford Humanities Review, Journal of Popular Music Studies, co-founder of Music, Sound and the Moving Image, and past chair of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music. In addition to publishing widely in the areas of film music and ubiquitous musics, she has also written numerous articles, with David Kazanjian, on Armenian diasporan film. She has co-curated several Armenian film festivals in San Francisco and New York.
She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Aunt Lute Books (since 1992), a feminist press in San Francisco focusing on works by women writers from underrepresented communities, and on the Advisory Board of ArteEast (since 2003), a Middle East arts organization in New York City.
Between 2003 and 2009, Kev Orkian spent a lot of his time touring the UK as the support act for some of the biggest names in British comedy and has previously starred in West-End London musicals including Fame, Happy Days and Boogie Nights alongside Dancing on Ice winner and Emmerdaleactress Hayley Tamaddon.
In 2009 Kev Orkian became a regular on the UK comedy circuit performing at well-known clubs such as Jongleurs where his comedy rendition of Elton John's I'm Still Standing has been described as Comedy Gold, and has generated standing ovations.
On September 23, 2009 Event Magazine reported that Kev Orkian won the final of 'The Next Big Thing' - the event industry's version of The X Factor, which was held at Event UK in Birmingham.
On Thursday 10 June 2010, Kev Orkian performed for HRH The Prince Philip, celebrating his 89th birthday at the Guards Polo Club. The event fell behind schedule and Prince Philip was set to leave – before Kev got on stage – to get to another engagement. But as soon as Kev started his sketch the Prince decided to sit back down and watch the full act. So impressed was he that instead of rushing off at the end he stayed even longer to congratulate Kev in person. Prince Philip was quoted as saying “It’s a wonderful show. I thoroughly enjoyed your performance”.
Also in June 2010, Kev Orkian performed a live comedy 'sketch' with opera diva Katherine Jenkins for a private birthday party at which Motown legend Lionel Richie also performed, along with the NSO (National Symphony Orchestra) and comedians Bobby Davro and Jethro. The comedy routine was an updated version of an old Victor Borge sketch which Kev Orkian had developed with Katherine Jenkins.
PROFESSOR OF MUSIC
Anahid Kassabian is James and Constance Alsop Chair of Music at the University of Liverpool; she was previously Associate Professor of Media Studies at Fordham University. Her research and teaching focus on film music, ubiquitous music, disciplinarity, and listening.
She received her Ph.D. in Modern Thought and Litereature from Stanford University, and went on to teach at universities in New York and California. She has served on faculties of Women's Studies, Literary Studies, and Communication and Media Studies.
She is a past editor of Stanford Humanities Review, Journal of Popular Music Studies, co-founder of Music, Sound and the Moving Image, and past chair of the International Association for the Study of Popular Music. In addition to publishing widely in the areas of film music and ubiquitous musics, she has also written numerous articles, with David Kazanjian, on Armenian diasporan film. She has co-curated several Armenian film festivals in San Francisco and New York.
She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Aunt Lute Books (since 1992), a feminist press in San Francisco focusing on works by women writers from underrepresented communities, and on the Advisory Board of ArteEast (since 2003), a Middle East arts organization in New York City.
FASHION DESIGNER
London born Charles Anastase was schooled at the French Lycée in South Kensington and is of French/Armenian roots. He credits his family for the success he has achieved and has stated that they are the most important thing in his life. Family and friends are apparently involved in everything he does. He began his career as an illustrator despite having studied political science. His army of fans include Alexa Chung, Yasmin Sewell, Beth Ditto and Kylie Minogue among many others.
TELEVISION PRESENTER
David Dickinson was born in Cheadle Heath, Stockport, Cheshire, to Eugenie Gulessarian. Eugenie was a member of an Armenian textile trading family, whose father Hrant Gulesserian, had moved from Constantinople to Manchester, England in 1904. Dickinson had corresponded with his biological mother in her later life in Jersey, but they never met. Dickinson's biological father is unknown. His maternal grandmother's surname was Jackson, his mum was born in Chorlton-cum-Hardy. It has recently been found, through genealogy research, that his mum married, in 1943, in Wallasey to a man named Herbert H Moss, who may have been David's father.
David was adopted by the Dickinsons, a local couple. Mr. Dickinson died when David was 12, and as his adoptive mother worked hard to keep the family together, David was in part brought up by his French adoptive grandmother Sarah Dickenson. Dickinson began an apprenticeship at an aircraft factory when he was 14, but quickly left to work in the cloth trade in central Manchester. At 19 Dickinson served three years of a four-year sentence in prison, the majority spent at Strangeways in Manchester, for fraud.
He began working as an antiques dealer 30 years ago, when he worked full time as agent to his wife, the singer Lorne Lesley, who had 10 UK Single Record releases from 1959–1966, but no chart hits. While she was working, Dickinson spent time visiting antique shops and learning from the trade – he believed this was as a result of his approach, in "chatting up and generally charming" the dealers. Eventually he opened his own shop with old school friend Chris Haworth in Disley. The pair sold the first shop in 1980, and ran another in Wilmslow for three years – but it was not a success, and they dissolved the partnership.
Dickinson set up again in Manchester with the assistance of an old customer as silent partner, and the business ran until 1991 when, in light of forthcoming recession, the shop was closed. Dickinson decided to concentrate on selling antiques at prestigious fairs, taking stands at Olympia and other major antiques fairs three or four times a year, dealing in 18th and 19th century furniture and works of art.
ACTOR
Kevork Malikyan (born 1942) is an English character actor of Armenian descent, perhaps best known for his role as Kazim in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
In addition to film work, he has appeared in numerous television productions, including episodes of The Saint, The Professionals, Mind Your Language, Auf Wiedersehen Pet, The Avengers, Doctor Who and twice in Minder. He played a number of roles in the RSC production, Arabian Nights (December 2009 - January 2010), at the Courtyard Theatre, Stratford upon Avon.
NATASHA SHISHMANIAN
WRITER, JOURNALIST, GOLF PROFESSIONAL
Natasha Shishmanian is a professional golfer, part-time model, writer, journalist and columnist for Golf Punk magazine.She is Chris Evans' wife.
ARTUR BOBIKYAN
In addition to film work, he has appeared in numerous television productions, including episodes of The Saint, The Professionals, Mind Your Language, Auf Wiedersehen Pet, The Avengers, Doctor Who and twice in Minder. He played a number of roles in the RSC production, Arabian Nights (December 2009 - January 2010), at the Courtyard Theatre, Stratford upon Avon.
WRITER, JOURNALIST, GOLF PROFESSIONAL
Natasha Shishmanian is a professional golfer, part-time model, writer, journalist and columnist for Golf Punk magazine.She is Chris Evans' wife.
ORGANIST,PIANIAST
Artur Bobikyan is a concert pianist, organist, composer and music producer for films and Television.
He graduated as a pianist from Yekmalian Music School of his home town Echmiadzin, and later as a pianist and composer from Tchaikovsky Professional Music School in Yerevan. From the age of seven composing was a major part of his musical nature and with his parents’ encouragement he attended private classes and master classes with well known composers of the time in Armenia and later in Europe.
As a student, Artur has been the winner of several piano competitions in Armenia, Russia and Europe.
After graduating from Tchaikovsky he was appointed as the principal organ curator for Mother See of Holly Echmiadzin for more than ten years. Artur is a specialist of Armenian and Orthodox Church music and he was appointed to write the main music for TV and for the Official Celebrations of 1700th anniversary of Christianity in Armenia.
Bobikyans portfolio includes piano and violin concertos; several preludes for organ and piano; vocalises; coral arrangements; a number of TV commercial as well as documentary music and two musicals. Currently he is working on his third musical.
Bobikyan’s first CD was recorded with tenor Bishop Anushavan Jhamkochian. Presently he is working on his second instrumental CD.
During his career Artur had the honor to work and perform with legends as Jivan Gasparian, Lusine Zakarian, The Pop John Paul the II, Juzeppe Canova, John Cloud Vandam, Charles Aznavour and others.
He is a member of the Association of composers North West UK.
Performances:
Royal Festival Hall, Westminster abbey London, Cathedral Grant Trinity Paris, Komitas Chamber Music Hall, Armenian National Opera ,Aram Khachaturian Philharmonic Music Hall , Narekatsi Art Institute and other Halls.
Compositions have been performed by:
BBC singers, London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Radio 4, Classic FM, Radio France, Radio Europe and most of Armenian and Russian TV and Radio stations.
Publications include:
Echmiadzin Press, Oxford University music press, BBC singers press.
He graduated as a pianist from Yekmalian Music School of his home town Echmiadzin, and later as a pianist and composer from Tchaikovsky Professional Music School in Yerevan. From the age of seven composing was a major part of his musical nature and with his parents’ encouragement he attended private classes and master classes with well known composers of the time in Armenia and later in Europe.
As a student, Artur has been the winner of several piano competitions in Armenia, Russia and Europe.
After graduating from Tchaikovsky he was appointed as the principal organ curator for Mother See of Holly Echmiadzin for more than ten years. Artur is a specialist of Armenian and Orthodox Church music and he was appointed to write the main music for TV and for the Official Celebrations of 1700th anniversary of Christianity in Armenia.
Bobikyans portfolio includes piano and violin concertos; several preludes for organ and piano; vocalises; coral arrangements; a number of TV commercial as well as documentary music and two musicals. Currently he is working on his third musical.
Bobikyan’s first CD was recorded with tenor Bishop Anushavan Jhamkochian. Presently he is working on his second instrumental CD.
During his career Artur had the honor to work and perform with legends as Jivan Gasparian, Lusine Zakarian, The Pop John Paul the II, Juzeppe Canova, John Cloud Vandam, Charles Aznavour and others.
He is a member of the Association of composers North West UK.
Performances:
Royal Festival Hall, Westminster abbey London, Cathedral Grant Trinity Paris, Komitas Chamber Music Hall, Armenian National Opera ,Aram Khachaturian Philharmonic Music Hall , Narekatsi Art Institute and other Halls.
Compositions have been performed by:
BBC singers, London Symphony Orchestra, BBC Radio 4, Classic FM, Radio France, Radio Europe and most of Armenian and Russian TV and Radio stations.
Publications include:
Echmiadzin Press, Oxford University music press, BBC singers press.
JAMES DANIEL
TELEVISION PRESENTER
James Daniel May (born 16 January 1963) is an English television presenter, award-winning journalist and writer.
May is best known as co-presenter of the motoring programme Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarksonand Richard Hammond, and has presented a variety of other television documentaries and entertainment programmes around themes including science and technology, childhood toys, cars, food and drink, and the plight of manliness in modern times. In 2009 he presented a two part documentary programme marking the 40th anniversary of the moon landings, culminating in him taking a flight to the edge of space aboard a U2 spy plane. In addition he has released a variety of DVDs and books with similar themes, and writes a weekly column for The Daily Telegraph'smotoring section.
On Top Gear, his nickname is "Captain Slow", because of his careful driving style, love of small, underpowered cars and his habit of getting lost and distracted whilst driving. In a February 2007 episode of Top Gear he carried out a successful top speed test drive of a Bugatti Veyron at the Ehra-LessienVolkswagen test track, reaching 407 kilometres per hour (253 mph). In July 2010 he repeated the attempt in the updated Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, reaching the vehicle's top speed of 417.6 kilometres per hour (259.5 mph), confirming that it had retaken the title as the fastest road car in production.
ALEXANDER CHAUSHIAN
MUSICIAN
Alexander Chaushian started to play the cello at the age of seven, studying with his grandfather and Zare Sarkisian. From 1992 to 1995, he studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School with Melissa Phelps and from 1995 to 1999 at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London as a student of Oleg Kogan. From 1999 to 2001, Chaushian performed extensively as part of the Kempf Trio, holding a fellowship at the Royal Academy of Music in London. In 2003 he pursued advanced studies at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin with the late Boris Pergamenschikow and later David Geringas, graduating with distinction in 2005.
First Prize winner of the Premio Mozart Competition in Verona, Italy in 1990 and the International Music Competition in Holland in 1992, Alexander Chaushian also received the Guilhermina Suggia Gift in London - a grant awarded to outstanding string players - on three occasions. In 1997, he was awarded the Orchestra of New England Soloist Prize, as well as the First Summis Auspiciis Prize of Young Concert Artists in New York. In 1999, he was the recipient of the Anna Instone Memorial Award sponsored by Capital Radio. In 2001, he was the joint recipient of the Pierre Fournier Award, while in 2002, he won the Third Prize in the 12th International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Chaushian was also awarded the Third Prize and the Special Prize given by the Munich Chamber Orchestra at the Internationaler Musikwettbewerb der ARD in Germany in September 2005.
Alexander Chaushian has appeared in prestigious venues throughout the world, and as a soloist, he has played with a number of renowned orchestras, including the Vienna Chamber Orchestra at Vienna’s Konzerthaus and at the Bruchnerhaus in Linz, the London Mozart Players and the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Royal National Orchestra of Belgium, Les Solistes Européens de Luxembourg in a gala concert conducted by Yehudi Menuhin, the Boston Pops Orchestra at Boston Symphony Hall, and the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra at Carnegie Hall.
Chaushian has given recitals at the Harrogate Festival in England, the Kuhmo International Festival in Finland, La Jolla Festival in the USA, the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, and in Montpellier as recipient of the Beracasa Foundation Prize of the Radio-France and in Montpellier Festival. Since 2002, he has been acting as the artistic director of the Orpheus & Bacchus Festival in Bordeaux in France and the International Pharos Chamber Music Festival in Cyprus. He has closely collaborated with a number of distinguished musicians, such as Levon Chilingirian, Dmitri Sitkovetsky, Ani and Ida Kavafian, David Geringas and Phillippe Cassard, as well as Yuri Bashmet and Gidon Kremer at the Kronberg Chamber Music Festival. His regular chamber music partners include Ashley Wass and Yevgeny Sudbin.
Alexander Chaushian has given highly praised recitals at the Wigmore Hall and the Queen Elizabeth Hall, and has appeared as a soloist in highly acclaimed concerts with the Philharmonia Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall, with The Academy of St Martin in the Fields and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Barbican, as well as the Padova Chamber Orchestra at the Sala Verdi in Milan and the Suntory Hall, Japan.
In 2006, Alexander Chaushian recorded Dmitry Shostakovich’s Cello Sonata for Performance Channel Television, as well as Wim Zwaag’s Cello Concerto with the Núrnberger Symphoniker. His solo debut recording for the BIS label of Weinberg’s Sonatas, in which he is partnered with Yevgeny Sudbin, was released to much acclaim. It was recently followed by another highly acclaimed CD for BIS, which includes cello sonatas by Rachmaninov, Borodin and Shostakovich.
HOVHANNESS PILIKIAN
PROFESSOR
Professor Hovhanness I. Pilikian is an internationally acclaimed film producer, theater director, a classical music composer, a classical scholar and social scientist, fluent in many modern languages, including French, German, Arabic, Armenian and Chinese. [Britain’s Famous experts on Pilikian’s work]: A strong directorial hand – Michael Billington, The Times, 4 October 1968 Positively revolutionary… a man of original genius – Hugh Cruttwell, Principal - RADA, 2 June 1972 A young director with two indispensable classical attributes of irreverence and water-diviner’s instinct for the springs of drama – Irving Wardle, The Times, 2 November 1971 One of Britain’s most original directors .. who never produces anything that is dull or conventional – Martin Esslin, Plays and Players, December 1976 A theatrical innovator – The Times, 27 October 1977 A cult figure – Alan Brien, Punch, 20 February 1980.
On Top Gear, his nickname is "Captain Slow", because of his careful driving style, love of small, underpowered cars and his habit of getting lost and distracted whilst driving. In a February 2007 episode of Top Gear he carried out a successful top speed test drive of a Bugatti Veyron at the Ehra-LessienVolkswagen test track, reaching 407 kilometres per hour (253 mph). In July 2010 he repeated the attempt in the updated Bugatti Veyron Super Sport, reaching the vehicle's top speed of 417.6 kilometres per hour (259.5 mph), confirming that it had retaken the title as the fastest road car in production.
MUSICIAN
Alexander Chaushian started to play the cello at the age of seven, studying with his grandfather and Zare Sarkisian. From 1992 to 1995, he studied at the Yehudi Menuhin School with Melissa Phelps and from 1995 to 1999 at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London as a student of Oleg Kogan. From 1999 to 2001, Chaushian performed extensively as part of the Kempf Trio, holding a fellowship at the Royal Academy of Music in London. In 2003 he pursued advanced studies at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin with the late Boris Pergamenschikow and later David Geringas, graduating with distinction in 2005.
First Prize winner of the Premio Mozart Competition in Verona, Italy in 1990 and the International Music Competition in Holland in 1992, Alexander Chaushian also received the Guilhermina Suggia Gift in London - a grant awarded to outstanding string players - on three occasions. In 1997, he was awarded the Orchestra of New England Soloist Prize, as well as the First Summis Auspiciis Prize of Young Concert Artists in New York. In 1999, he was the recipient of the Anna Instone Memorial Award sponsored by Capital Radio. In 2001, he was the joint recipient of the Pierre Fournier Award, while in 2002, he won the Third Prize in the 12th International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Chaushian was also awarded the Third Prize and the Special Prize given by the Munich Chamber Orchestra at the Internationaler Musikwettbewerb der ARD in Germany in September 2005.
Alexander Chaushian has appeared in prestigious venues throughout the world, and as a soloist, he has played with a number of renowned orchestras, including the Vienna Chamber Orchestra at Vienna’s Konzerthaus and at the Bruchnerhaus in Linz, the London Mozart Players and the Philharmonia Orchestra in London, the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Royal National Orchestra of Belgium, Les Solistes Européens de Luxembourg in a gala concert conducted by Yehudi Menuhin, the Boston Pops Orchestra at Boston Symphony Hall, and the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra at Carnegie Hall.
Chaushian has given recitals at the Harrogate Festival in England, the Kuhmo International Festival in Finland, La Jolla Festival in the USA, the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, and in Montpellier as recipient of the Beracasa Foundation Prize of the Radio-France and in Montpellier Festival. Since 2002, he has been acting as the artistic director of the Orpheus & Bacchus Festival in Bordeaux in France and the International Pharos Chamber Music Festival in Cyprus. He has closely collaborated with a number of distinguished musicians, such as Levon Chilingirian, Dmitri Sitkovetsky, Ani and Ida Kavafian, David Geringas and Phillippe Cassard, as well as Yuri Bashmet and Gidon Kremer at the Kronberg Chamber Music Festival. His regular chamber music partners include Ashley Wass and Yevgeny Sudbin.
Alexander Chaushian has given highly praised recitals at the Wigmore Hall and the Queen Elizabeth Hall, and has appeared as a soloist in highly acclaimed concerts with the Philharmonia Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall, with The Academy of St Martin in the Fields and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Barbican, as well as the Padova Chamber Orchestra at the Sala Verdi in Milan and the Suntory Hall, Japan.
In 2006, Alexander Chaushian recorded Dmitry Shostakovich’s Cello Sonata for Performance Channel Television, as well as Wim Zwaag’s Cello Concerto with the Núrnberger Symphoniker. His solo debut recording for the BIS label of Weinberg’s Sonatas, in which he is partnered with Yevgeny Sudbin, was released to much acclaim. It was recently followed by another highly acclaimed CD for BIS, which includes cello sonatas by Rachmaninov, Borodin and Shostakovich.
PROFESSOR
Professor Hovhanness I. Pilikian is an internationally acclaimed film producer, theater director, a classical music composer, a classical scholar and social scientist, fluent in many modern languages, including French, German, Arabic, Armenian and Chinese. [Britain’s Famous experts on Pilikian’s work]: A strong directorial hand – Michael Billington, The Times, 4 October 1968 Positively revolutionary… a man of original genius – Hugh Cruttwell, Principal - RADA, 2 June 1972 A young director with two indispensable classical attributes of irreverence and water-diviner’s instinct for the springs of drama – Irving Wardle, The Times, 2 November 1971 One of Britain’s most original directors .. who never produces anything that is dull or conventional – Martin Esslin, Plays and Players, December 1976 A theatrical innovator – The Times, 27 October 1977 A cult figure – Alan Brien, Punch, 20 February 1980.
WRITER, ACTRESS
Nouritza Matossian (born 1945) is a British Cypriot (of Armenian descent) writer, actress, broadcaster and human rights activist.She writes on the arts, contemporary music, history and Armenia.
Matossian published the first biography and critical study of the Greek composer Iannis Xenakis, the source book on his life, architecture and music based on ten years' collaboration with him. She later adapted it into a 50-minute documentary for BBC2, entitled Something Rich and Strange.
Matossian's 1998 book Black Angel, A Life of Arshile Gorky was written after twenty years' research. Ararat, the award-winning film by Atom Egoyan and Miramax, was partly inspired by Black Angel. She acted as consultant to Egoyan who modelled the female lead role Ani on her. Matossian also wrote and performs a solo show on Gorky's life from the viewpoint of his four beloved women with images and music. It has been produced worldwide over 80 times at venues including the Barbican, Tate Modern, London, New York, Los Angeles, the Edinburgh Festival, Cyprus, Paris, Lebanon, Iran,Romania and Georgia. In Armenia she performed it simultaneously in two languages.
Matossian broadcasts on the BBC and contributes to several newspapers and magazines, including The Independent, The Guardian, The Economist, and The Observer. She was Honorary Cultural Attache for the Armenian Embassy in London from 1991-2000.
She spent her childhood in Cyprus with her Armenian family. Educated in England, she graduated with Honours in Philosophy (B.Phil) from Bedford College, University of London, then studied music, theatre and mime in Dartington and Paris; she has a command of nine languages.
MAKE-UP ARTIST
Jenny Shircore is a British make-up artist. She won the Academy Award for Best Makeup for her work in Elizabeth. She won again in 2010 for her work in The Young Victoria.
She was born in India to an Armenian father and a French mother, moving to England at age 10.
MEZZO-SOPRANO
Mezzo-soprano Anaïs Heghoyan is presently the Aldama award for Opera scholar at the Royal College of Music's International Opera School and is on the Artist Diploma course studying with Timothy Evans-Jones. In 2006-2008, she studied at the RCM gaining a graduate and postgraduate diploma studying with Ryland Davies. She has participated in masterclasses in Nice, Copenhagen, The City Literary Institute and at the RCM with Philip Langridge, James Oxley, Robin Bowman and Patricia McMahon. She has sung at many Church services including St. Margaret's Westminster Abbey, Southwark Cathedral and on the BBC World Service as part of the Christmas programme. In 2004 she graduated from Brunel University having gained a BA Hons in English Literature and Theatre Studies.
Anaïs has been awarded first prize at the Watford and St. Albans music festivals and was a scholar of the Derek Butler Trust and Constant and Kit Lambert Awards.
In September 2006 she sang in the chorus of Mozart's C Minor Mass conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras. Her various roles from 2006-present in operas, opera scenes and oratorios include:
3rd Lady (Die Zauberflöte), Hermia (Britten - A Midsummer Night's Dream), Forrester's wife and several other characters in Janáček's Cunning Little Vixen and understudying La Fortuna in Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea (Opera scenes) Charlotte (Werther), Carmen, the quintet scene, Hermia (A Midsummer Night's Dream), Chorus (Marriage of Figaro), Chorus (The Rake's Progress), Chorus (Don Pasquale), an Easter workshop with the British Youth Opera singing Dorabella in the sextet from Mozart's Cosi fan tutte, Angelina in La Cenerentola, Didone in L'egisto, Cavalli, Meg (Falstaff), Dorabella (Cosi fan tutte) and Nancy (Britten - Albert Herring).
(Oratorio/Concerts): Alto soloist in Vaughan Williams's Serenade to Music and Tippett's Negro Spirituals at the Cadogan Hall with the Sonitus Choir, Extracts from operas with Sir Thomas Allen at 2009's Soirée d'Or at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Bach‘s Ascension Oratorio (BWV 11) and Cantata 192 at St. John's Smith Square, Vivaldi's Gloria at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Norwich, Bach's Magnificat & Cantata 21, St John's Passion, Mozart's Requiem, Mary Magdalene's Aria and chorus in Bach's Easter Oratorio with the RCM choir.
MUSICIAN
Gilbert Biberian is one of the most innovative performers and composers working in the field of the guitar today. His concerts are greeted with much acclaim for their high quality of artistry and musical energy. Keenly aware of the importance of creating a new body of work for the guitar, Gilbert Biberian has stimulated much original composition and along with his own works he has enriched the repertoire of the instrument for all time.
A strong believer in the immense value of chamber music, he was the first to form a guitar ensemble of professional standing, The Omega Players in 1969. This was a group of ten guitarists who numbered amongst them a singer, composers, percussionists and bass players. The music composed for it reflects this considerable diversity of talent in it. Composers such as Elisabeth Lutyens, Reginald Smith Brindle, David Bedford and John Lambert composed works which are distinguished by their musical substance as well as by their adventurousness.
The Omega Guitar Quartet, formed at the same time, emerged in 1974, with appearances at the Wigmore Hall, in the first English festival of ensembles of guitar, presenting a vast array of new works and arrangements. The OGQ went on to plough a furrow for the next ten years, pioneering new works and touring many countries.
Gilbert worked a lot as a studio musician, playing on the sound tracks of numerous films, including the James Bond film, License to Kill, Yentle and Cuba. The fame of the OGQ inspired film composer, Stanley Myers, to score for them as a prominent feature on the sound track of one of his films, The Stones of Ibarra. His studio career brought him into contac with such musicians as Paul MacCartney, Henri Mancini, Elmer Bernstein, Mick Jagger and many others. His work in the classical field saw him working with Luciano Berio, Cathy Berberian, Pierre Boulez and the BBC Sympony Orchestra, The Royal Philharmonic and Sir Simon Rattle, The London Sinfonietta, Lontano and many others.
His career as a soloist has taken him to many countries of the world as far a field as New Zealand, Canada and Venezuela. He has played in Spain, Germany, Turkey, Italy Germany and Greece. His concert career as a soloist continues with planned visits to South America, South Africa, the Middle East as well as the Far East.
NOVELIST, POET
Charles Hamilton Aide (sometimes written as Aidé or Aïdé; born in Paris, France, 1826 - died in London, England, 13 December 1906) was "for many years a conspicuous figure in London literary society, a writer of novels, songs and dramas of considerable merit and popularity, and a skillful amateur artist". In particular, Aide was "known for such widely anthologized lyrics as 'Love, the Pilgrim', 'Lost and Found' and 'George Lee'". His father, an Armenian merchant, was killed in a duel when Aide was four years old. He was thereafter raised in England by his mother, who was the daughter of a British admiral. Aide attended the University of Bonn, then served in the British army until 1853, attaining the rank of captain.
A lifelong bachelor, Aide lived in Lyndhurst with his mother. After her death in 1875, he then "took rooms at Queen Anne's Gate where he hosted a celebrated salon which drew 'the chief figures in the social and artistic world of France as well as England'". His entry in the Dictionary of National Biography sets forth that Aide was: man of versatile accomplishments and with abundant social gifts, who devoted himself with equal success to society, music, art, and literature.' He wrote several volumes of poetry, composed songs, exhibited the sketches made on his regular foreign travels at various galleries. He wrote nineteen novels dealing with fashionable society which 'enjoyed some vogue'. His drama Philip was produced with Irving in the lead at the Lyceum in 1874 and his comedy A Nine Day's Wonder was produced by John Hare and the Kendals at the Court Theatre in 1875.
WRITER
Michael Arlen (born Rousse, Bulgaria, November 16, 1895, died June 23, 1956), original name Dikran Kouyoumdjian, was an Armenian essayist, short story writer, novelist, playwright, and scriptwriter, who had his greatest successes in the 1920s while living and writing in England. Although Arlen is most famous for his satirical romances set in English smart society, he also wrote gothic horror and psychological thrillers, for instance "The Gentleman from America", which was filmed in 1956 as a television episode for Alfred Hitchcock's TV series Alfred Hitchcock Presents. Near the end of his life, Arlen mainly occupied himself with political writing. Arlen's vivid but colloquial style "with unusual inversions and inflections with a heightened exotic pitch",came to be known as Arlenesque.
Very much a 1920s society figure resembling the characters he portrayed in his novels, and a man who might be referred to as a dandy, Arlen invariably impressed everyone with his immaculate manners. He was always impeccably dressed and groomed and was seen driving around London in a fashionable yellow Rolls Royce and engaging in all kinds of luxurious activities. However, he was well aware of the latent racism, the contempt for foreigners mixed with envy, with which his success was viewed. Sydney Horler (1888–1954), another popular author of the time, is said to have called Arlen "the only Armenian who never tried to sell me a carpet, while Arlen half-jokingly described himself as "every other inch a gentleman".
ACTRESS
Vivien Leigh was born Vivian Mary Hartley on the evening of Wednesday November 5th, 1913 in her parents home in Darjeeling, India. Her father, Ernest Hartley, was born in Yorkshire England in 1883, and had moved to India at the age of 22 in search of a career and adventure. He became involved with a brokerage firm, spent time racing horses, and acted inThe Calcutta Dramatic Society. Vivien's mother, Gertrude Yackjee, although from Irish descendants, was also born in Darjeeling India, in 1888. Friends of the Hartleys said that Gertrude, with her dark hair, blue eyes, and peach-like skin (traits Vivien would inherit), was very beautiful in her youth, more so than Vivien. The Yackjee side of the family also had Armenian descendants which may have influenced Vivien's dark Eastern looks.
She was an English actress. She won two Best Actress Academy Awards for playing "southern belles": Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939) and Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), a role she also played on stage in London'sWest End.
She was a prolific stage performer, frequently in collaboration with her then-husband, Laurence Olivier, who directed her in several of her roles. During her 30-year stage career, she played roles ranging from the heroines of Noël Coward and George Bernard Shaw comedies to classic Shakespearean characters such as Ophelia, Cleopatra, Juliet and Lady Macbeth.
Lauded for her beauty, Leigh felt that it sometimes prevented her from being taken seriously as an actress. However, ill health proved to be her greatest obstacle. For much of her adult life Leigh suffered from bipolar disorder. She earned a reputation for being difficult to work with, and her career suffered periods of inactivity. She also suffered recurrent bouts of chronic tuberculosis, first diagnosed in the mid-1940s. Leigh and Olivier divorced in 1960, and she worked sporadically in film and theatre until her death from tuberculosis in 1967.
She was a prolific stage performer, frequently in collaboration with her then-husband, Laurence Olivier, who directed her in several of her roles. During her 30-year stage career, she played roles ranging from the heroines of Noël Coward and George Bernard Shaw comedies to classic Shakespearean characters such as Ophelia, Cleopatra, Juliet and Lady Macbeth.
Lauded for her beauty, Leigh felt that it sometimes prevented her from being taken seriously as an actress. However, ill health proved to be her greatest obstacle. For much of her adult life Leigh suffered from bipolar disorder. She earned a reputation for being difficult to work with, and her career suffered periods of inactivity. She also suffered recurrent bouts of chronic tuberculosis, first diagnosed in the mid-1940s. Leigh and Olivier divorced in 1960, and she worked sporadically in film and theatre until her death from tuberculosis in 1967.
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