George Pehlivanian

George Pehlivanian was born in Beirut, Lebanon, of Armenian origin. His mother, Arpine Pehlivanian was a very loved and well known Soprano Coloratura in all the Armenian Diaspora. With her encouragement, George Pehlivanian started the piano and violin lessons at the age of three and six respectively. In 1975, he emigrated with his family to Los Angeles where he would soon become one of the youngest concertmasters and continued in that position for the next 15 years with different orchestras in the US. Studies conducting with Pierre Boulez, Ferdinand Leitner and Lorin Maazel, who encourages him to switch to conducting. 2 years later he becomes the first American to win the Grand Prize in the well known Besançon International Conductors' Competition in France. Thus beginning his International career.

From January 2005, Mr. Pehlivanian becomes the first ever foreign Chief Conductor of the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, and starting from September 2007, he becomes the Principal Guest Conductor of the Opera Theatre of Cagliari in Sardegna, Italy. He also continues as Principal Guest Conductor of the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, (2004 - ) as well as regular guest conductor of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (2002 - ) . He has held Principal Guest Conductor positions also with the Residentie Orchestra in The Hague (1996-1999) and the Vienna Chamber Orchestra (1996-2000).

Mr. Pehlivanian has conducted many of the world’s leading orchestras, and has the privilege to collaborate regularly with the world's finest soloists.

From 2002-2004, he was the Founder and Artistic Director of the International Music Academy in Gandia (Spain). From the summer of 2005, he is the Founder and Artistic Director of his International Conducting Academy in Portorož (Slovenia).

Mr. Pehlivanian's discography includes the recent releases of his input in Slovenian composers, the first of a series of recordings which has begun with the most famous Slovene Opera ever written, by Marijan Kozina, "Ekvinozie", the release coincides on the 100th anniversary of the composer . Next release is scheduled with the music of Blaz Arnic, his well known 8th Symphony , future releases will include most celebrated symphonic works of Kozina as well as Skerjanec , Bravnicar and others... Mr.Pehlivanian's past releases include, a double CDfor Virgin Classics/EMI and the Monte Carlo Philharmonic, other recordings include the world premiere recording of music by Zhukov under CHANDOS with the Residentie Orchestra, works by Rodrigo with the Orquesta Nacional de España STUDIO SM, as well as Liszt’s complete works for piano and orchestra with Louis Lortie and the Residentie Orchestra for CHANDOS, the third instalment of which received special praise by Gramophone Magazine.