Loris Tjeknavorian (also spelled Cheknavarian) is an Iranian-Armenian composer and conductor. He was born in 1937 in Borujerd in the province of Lorestan, southwestern Iran, and was educated in Tehran.

In the course of his career, Tjeknavarian has made about 100 recordings (with RCA, Philips, EMI, ASV, etc.) and written more than 75 compositions (symphonies, operas, a requiem, chamber music, concerto for piano, violin, guitar, cello and pipa (Chinese lute), ballet music, choral works and an oratorio. And over 45 Film mosaics.

Tjeknavarian also has conducted international orchestras throughout the world: in Austria, UK, US, Canada, Hungary, Iran, Finland, former USSR, Armenia, Thailand, Hong Kong, South Africa, Denmark, Israel, etc. In October 2010 he became the Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Glendale Symphony Orchestra in Southern California. Glenn Treibitz, president of the Glendale Symphony said; “with Loris Tjeknavorian at the helm, our orchestra will automatically become one of the most prominent in the Western USA.”

Awards
– Austria’s Presidential Gold Medal of Artistic Merit (2008)
– Austria’s Cross of Honor for Science and Art, first class (2008)
– Awarded “Top Medal of Art”, Iran’s highest medal for performing arts (2002)

Sources: Wikipedia | Loris Tjeknavorian