Born in 1986 in Yerevan, Armenia, Mr. Samvel Arakelyan began playing violin and
piano at the age of six. After graduating with honors from the Lazar Saryan Music
School in 2000, he continued his studies for 2 years at the Tchaikovsky Special
Music School Yerevan.
In 2003 he attended Yerevan State Conservatory with full scholarship. During his
studies he appeared in numerous recitals throughout Europe, the United States, and
Russia. In 2011, Samvel was accepted to Michigan State University, where he
completed his Artistic Diploma with Dmitri Berlinsky. In 2021 Samvel completed his
Doctoral Degree at the Michigan State University College of Music.
Samvel was also the recipient of Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU)
Scholarship (2012, 2013, 2014,), Armenian Renaissance Association Scholarship
(2012), and Romeo Tata Graduate Music Fellowships (2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18).
Samvel has performed in masterclasses with renown violinists Viktor Danchenko,
Mikhail Bezverkhni, Richard Young , Frank Almond, Junet Sung, Bin Huang, David
Kim, Martin Chalifour and many others. In 2007 he participated in Young Euro
Classic Festival and performed in Berlin Konzerthaus with the Armenian Youth
Symphony Orchestra. In 2008 he was a participant of the Aram Khachaturian
Festival in Moscow, Russia. There he performed in the Tchaikovsky Great Hall. In
2013 Samvel was a participant of the Summit Festival in New York. In 2015 Samvel
performed in Carnegie Hall with chamber groups as a part of the AGBU 7th Annual
Performing Artists Concert. In 2018 Samvel won the Michigan State University
School of Music Concerto Competition.
Samvel regularly performs throughout Michigan and Florida with orchestras
including the Battle Creek Symphony, Lansing Symphony, Traverse Symphony,
Midland Symphony, West Michigan Symphony Orchestra, Southwest Michigan
Symphony, South Florida Symphony Southwest Florida Symphony, Miami
Symphony, Palm Beach Opera, Brevard Symphony and Venice Symphony
Orchestras. Samvel was also the concertmaster of the International Chamber
Soloists led by Dmitri Berlinsky from 2015-2020.
Samvel also performed with such pop artists and rock groups as Lindsey Sterling,
Evanessence, Josh Groban, Idina Menzel and Sarah McLachlan, Andrea Bocelli and
many others.
Samvel regularly appears with performances in different venues across the States
with solo and chamber music performances. Samvel is also very active is social
media regularly creating music videos and posting over youtube, facebook,
instagram and other platforms. Some of his videos have over one hundred thousand
views and thousands of shares.
