Tigran Hamasyan Biography: Album, Awards, Ethnicity, Wife, Age, Height, Instagram, Net Worth, Songs

Tigran Hamasyan is an Armenian-American jazz pianist and composer widely recognized for his innovative musical style. His unique sound merges the complex improvisational elements of jazz with the deeply rooted, ancient scales of Armenian folk music, occasionally incorporating elements of progressive rock and heavy metal.

He rose to prominence at a young age after winning major international competitions, including the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition in 2006, which firmly established his presence on the global music stage.

Profile

• Full names: Tigran Hamasyan
• Date of birth: July 17, 1987
• Age: 38 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Gyumri, Armenia
• Nationality: Armenian, American
• Profession: Jazz Pianist, Composer
• Eye color: Brown
• Hair color: Dark Brown/Black
• Parents: Father (jeweler), Mother (clothing designer)
• Siblings: One sister (painter and sculptor)
• Spouse: Elena Hamasyan
• Children: N/A (he has children)
• Relationship status: Married
• Religion: Christian (Armenian Apostolic Church)
• Ethnicity: Armenian
• Net worth: $1 million to $5 million USD

Early Life and education

Tigran Hamasyan is now at the age of 38 and was born on July 17, 1987, in Gyumri, Armenia. He began playing the piano when he was three years old. His early years in Gyumri were shaped by the diverse music playing in his household; his father listened to classic rock like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, while his uncle exposed him to jazz greats.

He started attending a music school in Gyumri at age six. The family moved to the capital, Yerevan, when he was ten, where he continued his musical education at the Tchaikovsky Specialized Music Academy, focusing on classical music.

The family relocated to Los Angeles, California, in 2003 when Hamasyan was 16 to pursue better artistic opportunities for both him and his sister. In the US, he was accepted into the University of Southern California (USC) to study music.

He later transferred to The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City. He left university after about a year at The New School to focus entirely on his professional performing and composing career, making him a non-degreed alumnus of USC.

Personal Life

Tigran Hamasyan is married to Elena Hamasyan, an artist and photographer. She has collaborated with him on various creative projects related to his music, including album artwork and the visual components of his 2024 project, The Bird of a Thousand Voices.

The couple have children, but their names are kept private from the public sphere. Hamasyan has dedicated some of his music to his family members.

Career

Tigran Hamasyan’s career took off rapidly after his family moved to the United States. He first gained international attention at the age of 16 when he won the piano competition at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 2003.

This was followed by a major breakthrough in 2006 when he won first prize at the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition. He has since built a prolific career as a touring musician and recording artist, blending traditional Armenian music, jazz improvisation, electronic elements, and progressive rock.

He has released over a dozen albums. His early works include World Passion (2007) and Aratta Rebirth: Red Hail (2009). His album A Fable (2011) was released on the Universal Music label and achieved significant sales for a jazz record. He signed with the Nonesuch Records label for albums like Mockroot (2015) and An Ancient Observer (2017).

He has toured globally as a solo artist, in trios, and with larger ensembles, including the Yerevan State Chamber Choir for his album Luys i Luso (2015), which featured arrangements of Armenian sacred music.

His 2022 album, StandArt, was his first recording focused entirely on American jazz standards, featuring guest appearances by notable musicians like Joshua Redman and Ambrose Akinmusire. His 2024 release, The Bird of a Thousand Voices, is a conceptual work based on an Armenian fairy tale.

Awards

• Montreux Jazz Festival Solo Piano Competition (First Prize) (2003)
• Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition (First Prize) (2006)
• Armenian Music Awards (Best Jazz Album) (2010)
• Echo Jazz Award (International Instrumentalist of the Year – Piano) (2015)
• Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Contemporary Music (2017)

Net worth

Tigran Hamasyan’s net worth is estimated between $1 million to $5 million USD. This wealth has been primarily accrued through extensive international touring, album sales and royalties from his discography, and monetary prizes from the numerous prestigious awards and grants he has received throughout his career.

Social Media

• Instagram: @tigranhamasyan
• X: @tigranhamasyan

Discography

• World Passion (2007)
• New Era (2008)
• Aratta Rebirth: Red Hail (2009)
• A Fable (2011)
• Shadow Theater (2013)
• Luys i Luso (2015)
• Mockroot (2015)
• An Ancient Observer (2017)
• For Gyumri EP (2018)
• The Call Within (2020)
• StandArt (2022)
• The Bird of a Thousand Voices (2024)