The Tryon Concert Association proudly presents award-winning cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan and pianist Noreen Polera

at the Tryon Fine Arts Center Feb. 7 at 8 p.m.

Armenian-born Hakhnazaryan was the Gold Medal and first prize winner at the 2011 International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. This was just one in a string of first prize awards the young cellist has acquired: first prize 2008 Young Concert Artists International Audition, first prize in the 2006 Aram Khachaturian International Competition in Armenia, and first place in the Johansen International Competition for Young String Players.

Born in 1988 into a family of professional musicians, Hakhnazaryan began studies at the Moscow Conservatory at age 12. He has studied with several excellent teachers including Mstislav Rostropovic. He received an artist diploma from the New England Conservatory of Music in 2011 where he studied with Laurence Lesser. He has performed across the United States as well as in Europe and Asia with major orchestras and conductors.

His 2012-13 season includes performances with the Rotterdam Philharmonic, the Dallas Symphony, the Kansas City Symphony, the London Philharmonic, BBC Scottish

Symphony, NDR Hamburg, La Scala Filarmonica Milan, Seoul Philharmonic and others. In chamber and duo recitals he performed throughout the United States as well as in Paris’ Salle Pleyel and at the Beethoven Festival in Warsaw.

Collaborative pianist, Noreen Polera, is winner of the Accompanying Prize at the Eighth International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Cassidy-Polera holds bachelor of music and master of music degrees from the Juilliard School. She has performed with many leading soloists including David Shifrin, Matt Haimovitz, Carter Brey, Yo-Yo Ma and Leonard Rose.

For the program at TFAC on Feb. 7, this outstanding duo will perform works of Cesar Frank, Chopin, Ligeti, Mikahil Bronner and Tchaikovsky.

The concert series is by subscription. For information call 828-859-6065 or write Tryon Concert Association, P.O. Box 32, Tryon, N.C. 28782. For information about the entire season visit our website: TryonConcerts.com

– article submitted by Joella Utley