Ashot Bznuni

Ashot Bznuni is a well-known Armenian musician, composer, songwriter, arranger, producer, and voice/piano teacher. A graduate of Yerevan State Komitas Conservatory (with a Master’s Degree in music), he has been a lover of Pop and Jazz music from an early age. Among his influences are The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, George Gershwin, and Quincy Jones.

The academic education on one side, and a personal research and self-education on another, brought him to the determination to find his own way for self-expression. In 1988 he was invited by the National Centre of Children’s Art, Music and Aesthetics to work as a music director and arranger for its Musical Theatre. There, he organized a small group of singers, mostly teenage girls, which later evolved into his original Jazz-Pop choir. In 1990, the choir was featured on National Television, performing the famed The Beatles hit “Let it be,” and becoming an instant sensation. The work with this choir within the next 3-4 years brought many awards and fame to Mr. Bznuni as well as to the young singers, many of whom went on to become nationally acclaimed Pop stars.

The years following the Jazz-Pop choir saw Ashot Bznuni take on a new direction: individually working with aspiring young pop singers pursuing their dreams of a big stage. As a part-time professor in the Yerevan State Komitas Conservatory Jazz Department, the Yerevan State Pop & Jazz College, as well as privately, in his own home-studio, Ashot Bznuni made it his top commitment to find, through individual approach, each young singers personal strengths, and, through the development of a musical taste and the choice of the right songs, help each of them reach the pinnacles of their potential. The results were participating and winning numerous prestigious international competitions, such as “Sloviansky Bazaar” (Slovenian Bazaar), “Shire Krug” (“Wider Circle”), “Golos Azii” (“Voice of Asia”), as well as, more recently, “Eurovision Song Contest,” and “American Idol.” Needless to say, many of these solo protégés joined the list of stars in the Armenian Pop Hall of Fame.

In 2006, Ashot Bznuni moved to Los Angeles, and to this day continues to educate the young generations. We at the Academy of Music and Fine Arts are extremely pleased to have Prof. Bznuni as the Head of our Pop Music Department.