Inspiring Conversations with Ruben Aghiyan of Orchestra Music Academy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ruben Aghiyan

Hi Ruben, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Ruben is born in Yerevan Armenia. He graduated the Tchaikovsky State School of Music for Gifted Performing Arts Students in Yerevan with Honors. After graduation he went on to earn his BA and MA degrees in Music and Performing Arts at the Rachmaninov State Music Conservatory in Rostov, Russia.

Ruben has taken part in numerous national and international competitions, won prestigious awards on various stages and is a recipient of the State Fellowship Award among other accomplishments. He’s now a Composer, Performing Musician, Instrumentation Specialist and Arranger and Violin instructor at Orchestra Music Academy. He founded OMA in 2014 to help young learners master the violin and piano with ease and efficiency. He developed a very unique methodology to learn the violin and piano at a record time. 4 months to start playing the instrument.

His unique curriculum, Magic Violin and Magic Piano are even being used in private and public schools throughout LA.

Despite his young age, Ruben has managed to travel and perform live on many international renown stages across Russia with a variety of orchestras, ensembles and bands including as a solo artist, resident composer and on the go arranger in the classic, pop, and soft rock genres. Ruben founded the Vivaldi Trio in Maykop Russia, with specialized in bringing classical music and new-classical crossovers to high-profile indoor and outdoor events. Ruben staged several productions and had especially huge success with live music production Barracuda in Rostov, Russia, which was then franchised in other cities as well.

Being relatively new to Los Angeles (since 2012) did not stop Ruben from pursuing his primary academic and career goals. Ruben’s recent interests include violin instruction at an early age, studying contemporary music production techniques, and organizing practical workshops and giving master-class style lessons to aspiring musicians and graduate students majoring in music. Ruben has chosen the Academy of Music and Fine Arts in Van Nuys, California, and the Russian Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles to search, discover, and work with the talented youth.
The quest for combining his forte as a performing artist and composer with his inner desire to organize live production events drove Ruben to UCLA where he is currently mastering post-graduate level music production techniques working with such renowned Hollywood music-makers as Maurizio “Otto” De Togni of Italy who boasts hundreds of production events and material with Hollywood’s greatest.
Among Ruben’s most recent performances is that with Jonathan Sacks, the famous Hollywood creator of the sound track for the cartoon Cars.
Ruben is a proud member of the Armenian American Theatrical & Musical Society, City Chamber of Commerce, and a frequent guest as performing artist at the events organized by the Western Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Armenian-American Chamber of Commerce.
Ruben is a strong believer of the slogan “sound mind in sound body”. He plays tennis (having practiced tennis as a semi-pro in Russia) and is sufficiently persuasive to periodically “drag” some of his colleagues and students onto the tennis courts for practice or playing a set…

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It never is a smooth road, All the way from Language barriers, Culture barriers, wars in Armenia, to mother’s passing, it’s been challenging to stay inspired, compose and teach.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Orchestra Music Academy was established a decade ago by Ruben Aghiyan, a versatile composer and musician, proficient in violin, piano. Located in Glendale, CA, our academy is rooted in Mr. Aghiyan’s personal journey, committed to imparting classical music education and fostering accelerated development in children. His conviction in the transformative power of music education, which enhances independent study, elevates self-esteem, refines eye-hand coordination, and alleviates stress, propels our mission.

Aligned with our founder’s ethos, our instructors are not only exceptionally skilled but also deeply resonate with our core values. What sets us apart is our distinctive teaching methodology—a meticulously crafted curriculum tailored for learners of all ages and levels, ensuring effective, enjoyable mastery of musical instruments.

Witnessing the joyous smiles of children on stage as they share their musical journey with loved ones and the community is our greatest reward. Our ultimate aim is to nurture lifelong learners and conscientious contributors to society, providing them with opportunities for personal and professional growth. While a career in music remains a possibility, our aspiration is for our students to evolve into well-rounded, exemplary individuals, irrespective of their chosen paths.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
Shushana Hakobyan was an integral part in the formation and training of the teachers for Orchestra Music Academy.
Tigran Mirzoyan childhood friend, motion graphic designer, video producer, entrepreneur, was also helpful in supporting to the success of the academy.

One of my mentors was Mr. Joe Ketendjian violin instructor.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://orchestramusicacademy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/orchestramusicacademy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OrchestraMusicAcademy
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@orchestramusicacademy
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@orchestramusicacademy

Image Credits
Tigran Mirzoyan photographer