- Anahid Ajemian
Infobox Musical artist
Img_size = 150
| Name = Anahid Ajemian
Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Born = birth date and age|1924|1|26
Origin =
Instrument =Violin
Genre =
Occupation =Musician
Years_active =
Label =
Associated_acts =Maro Ajemian
URL =Anahid Ajemian (born
January 26 ,1924 ) is an American violinist. Ajemian's career in contemporary music got its impetus from the fact that she is of Armenian descent. [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,936622,00.html TIME - The Armenian Sisters] ]Beginning in the 1940s, Ajemian did much to promote the work of American composers, giving frequent performances of new compositions together with her sister, the pianist
Maro Ajemian , and touring the United States, Canada, and Europe. Among the composers who wrote for them areJohn Cage ,Henry Cowell ,Alan Hovhaness ,Ernst Krenek ,Lou Harrison ,Wallingford Riegger ,Carlos Surinach , andBen Weber . Anahid and Maro Ajemian were the first instrumentalists to receive the Laurel Leaf Award from theAmerican Composers Alliance , for their "distinguished service to American music."Also during the 1940s, the two co-founded the
New York City -based organization Friends of Armenian Music Committee, which did much to launch the career of fellow Armenian American composerAlan Hovhaness , via a series of well received New York concerts of his music. Anahid was also a member of the Composers Quartet.Ajemian teaches violin at
Columbia University . She is married toGeorge Avakian , a record producer and founding officer of theNational Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences .References
External links
* [http://music.columbia.edu/mpp/biographies.html Anahid Ajemian biography]
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