BIOGRAPHY                                    BIOGRAPHY                                    BIOGRAPHY Based in Los Angeles, California, the American-Armenian composer Edward Manukyan has recently gained considerable international reputation for his chamber works, choral and vocal music. Born and raised in Armenia (then USSR) in 1981, Manukyan did not develop his interests in music until his late teens. In 1997 he won a state scholarship to study languages and psychology at the University after V. Brusov in Yerevan and at the same time he began studying music, concentrating on composition and songwriting. Advancing his skills rapidly and with a devotion, he soon appeared as a permanent member with local orchestras and chamber groups, writing material for their repertoires. Upon moving to the United States in 2002, Manukyan studied with Rowan Taylor and later continued his studies at the California State University, Los Angeles (2005-2007), earning a Master of Music degree in composition, for his Symphony No. 1, performed by CSULA Wind Ensemble upon his graduation (conducted by Abel Ramirez). His music soon attracted the attention of a number of serious musicians, receiving generous praise from both audiences and critics. Manukyan's works have been featured by orchestras, chamber groups and solo musicians worldwide and have appeared as subjects in various research and PhD thesis projects. His Trio for Clarinet, Violin and Piano, is among the most frequently performed trios in the international repertoire. Manukyan's style is based on Armenian folklore elements and contemporary compositional techniques. Although he never presents quotations of actual folk songs, the glorification of folk music and its synthesis with modern trends is the very essence of all his work. His fast-growing catalog includes both orchestral and chamber works, as well as music for solo instruments and over one hundred songs. In recent years, the composer has been dedicating a considerable part of his music to scientists and peace activists, in his ongoing attempts to promote wider appreciation for science. These efforts were put into a unique project of the composer's creation called "Musical Tribute to Scientists," which honors some of the world's greatest minds in concerts throughout the United States and Europe. Manukyan is a member of the American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP) and currently lives in Los Angeles. He often travels to be present at concerts of his music, occasionally providing opening speeches and brief lectures on music, as well as science and philosophy.