By Allison Plitt
So far, 2015 has been a very good year for Middle Village concert violinist Nuné Melikian.
In January she played at Carnegie Weill Recital Hall, winning a violin competition called “Getting to Carnegie.”
In May she participated in The Second G. Gershwin International Music Competition in Brooklyn, where she was recognized as a Laureate and Special Award Winner.
But while winning awards appears to be easy for Melikian, it took hard work and determination for her to make it into the ranks of today’s most esteemed violinists.
Born in Siberia, Melikan’s family heritage traces back to Armenia. Although she began playing the piano at age 4, her thoughts were elsewhere. “My Mom told me I was always very fascinated with the violin,” she said. “I was always trying to get closer to the violin, so that made her think that maybe I should change instruments.”
While she started to play violin at age 6, she continued to play the piano professionally until she was 19 years old.
As Melikian’s talent grew, her family supported and followed her. At 9, she moved with her mother to Moscow so that she could attend more challenging music schools. Her siblings and father eventually followed.
Melikian learned to play the violin as a soloist, chamber musician and orchestral violinist. She eventually won a full scholarship to the Moscow Conservatory.
“The Moscow Conservatory is a very prestigious thing,” she explained.
At 18, Melikian began at the conservatory as one of its top five entrants. Though she was impressed with the technical abilities of the other students, she was unhappy with her teachers and the school’s program.
With the aim of moving to another country, she won a full two-year scholarship to the University of Montreal. Entering the university at 19, she was the youngest student to graduate with a master’s degree, at 20, in 2011.
After staying in Montreal for another year to perform and teach, Melikian moved to New York City in 2012. While she has toured throughout Russia, Europe and Canada, her studies in New York have been a springboard for showcasing her talents in America. Besides currently performing in cities throughout the United States, she gives violin lessons in the New York area.
Since moving to New York, a period of homesickness prompted her decision to tour Armenia. With the intention of playing in Armenia for two weeks, she stayed for three months. Returning to the United States, she has kept ties with her homeland, most notably playing in concerts to honor the hundred-year anniversary of the 1915 Armenian Genocide.
“I love living in New York. I think it is one of the most amazing cities. New York is a very career-orientated city, so my goal is to build my career in the best way possible here,” Melikian said.
She offers this advice to aspiring violinists: “I sometimes think what you really need is a little bit of luck and determination. Just to be determined, work hard and try to concentrate on something.”
Through her journey from Siberia to the United States, Melikian has learned to speak five languages fluently. She has also recently published a book of poetry.
When asked what her greatest accomplishments have been, Melikian responded without hesitation, “Talk to me in 10 years. I think my greatest accomplishments are still ahead of me.”
For more information about Nuné Melikian, contact her at nunev
