ELIXIR PIANO TRIO

The Elixir Piano Trio is made up of award-winning and distinguished musicians, Violinist – Samvel Chilingarian, Pianist – Dr. Lucy Nargizyan, and Cellist – Dr. Fang Fang Xu.

Winner of the Most Distinguished Musician award 2005 IBLA International Competition in Italy, The Elixir Piano Trio has appeared in performances in Europe, Mexico and the United States. 

Founded in 2004, the dynamic Elixir Piano Trio performs both traditional and modern repertoire with classical, folk and jazz influences. Known for their unique and exciting interpretations, the Los Angeles based ensemble has dazzled audiences with their energy and sensitivity.

The trio has become instrumental in promoting works by Contemporary composers.

Violinist – Samvel Chilingarian 

Mr. Chilingarian enjoys a varied career as performer, educator and conductor. An avid chamber musician, Mr. Chilingarian has toured extensively throughout Europe, Japan, the United States and Central America with The Melos Ensemble, Vienna Sinfonietta, Orchestra Internazionale d´Italia, Tashen Oper and Ensemble Nine.

Mr. Chilingarian has performed in such prestigious venues as the Musikverein in Vienna, Teatro di San Carlo in Napoli, Teatro Farnese in Parma, Casals Hall in Tokyo, Birmingham Performing Arts Center in England. As a founding member of the Arioso String Quartet, he has toured Austria giving concerts in Vienna, Krems and Salzkammergut.

A native of Armenia, Mr. Chilingarian began his musical studies at age five. After receiving a Bachelor of Music from the California State University at Northridge and a Master of Music from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, Mr. Chilingarian moved to Vienna in 1990 to continue his studies in authentic performance and conducting. While in Vienna, Mr. Chilingarian joined the Pons Artis Chamber Orchestra, the Kammer Oper Orchestra and the Niederosterrichische Tonkunstler Orchestra. While in Austria, Mr. Chilingarian was invited to conduct the Linz Summer Festival Youth Orchestra in 1994.

Since his return to Los Angeles in 1995, Mr. Chilingarian´s focus has been to bring spirited music to young musicians. Mr. Chilingarian is the Artistic Director and conductor of Verdugo Young Musicians Association (VYMA). In 2007, VYMA Youth Orchestra was invited by the Los Angeles Philharmonic to perform at Walt Disney Concert Hall as part of the International Youth Orchestra Festival. Mr. Chilingarian has actively participated with the Los Angeles Philharmonic YOLA initiative as guest speaker and panelist.

Mr. Chilingarian has been featured on the Sundays Live radio broadcast Classical 105.1 K-Mozart as well as on 91.5 KUSC “Spotlight on The Arts”. Mr. Chilingarian serves on the faculty of East Los Angeles College and continues to perform with the Elixir Piano Trio.

Pianist – Lucy Nargizyan

Dr. Nargizyan has been featured as soloist and collaborative pianist throughout the United States, England, Wales, Austria, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Canada, Mexico and Russia. Her performances were broadcast on Russian Radio and Television as well as on Classical KUSC Radio. Dr. Nargizyan has performed as a soloist with the International Chamber Ensemble of Rome, the USC Thornton Chamber Orchestra, El Camino and East Los Angeles College Orchestras, and the Pasadena Community Orchestra. She has been invited several times to perform at Walt Disney Concert Hall as part of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Chamber Music Series.

Dr. Nargizyan has won numerous competitions, including the Moscow Young Artist Competition, the Los Angeles Liszt Competition, the USC Concerto Competition, and the Peninsula Young Artists International Festival. She was also a finalist in the Mu Phi Epsilon National Competition. Dr. Nargizyan was the recipient of the “Most Distinguished Musician Award” at the 2005 IBLA International Competition in Italy, where she performed with the Elixir Piano Trio.

Elixir Piano Trio performs traditional and modern repertoire in the United States and internationally. The trio has performed many newly written works and recently recorded compositions by local composer Penka Kouneva.

Lucy Nargizyan was raised in Moscow, Russia. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Moscow State Music College, and Masters of Music and a Doctorate degrees in piano performance from the University of Southern California. At USC, she studied with Daniel Pollack, Kevin Fitz-Gerald, and Dennis Thurmond.

Dr. Nargizyan is a dedicated teacher whose students have been prizewinners in many local and state competitions. In addition, her students have transferred to such institutions as USC and Cleveland Institute of Music. Dr. Nargizyan is currently a Professor of Music at East Los Angeles College.

Cellist – Dr. Fang Fang Xu

Dr. Fang Fang Xu earned her Doctoral degree in Cello Performance from the University of Southern California.

She has performed at Schleswig-Holstein International Music Festival in Germany and
Guadalajara Music Festival in Mexico with eminent conductors Christoph Eschenbach and Mstislav Rostropovich.

She has appeared as guest soloist with the Pacific Symphony and USC Thornton Symphony among others, and as an orchestral player she has performed with LA Philharmonic and LA Chamber Orchestra.

She made her Carnegie Hall debut in June of 2010, as solo cellist in the production of Eric Whitacre’s
Paradise Lost. In Spring of 2011, Dr. Xu was again featured in the production at Disney Hall in Los Angeles. She currently maintains a private studio in South Pasadena, and serves as the String Chair of
MTAC Pasadena Branch.