Karen Ouzounian

Described as “radiant” and “expressive” (The New York Times) and “nothing less than gorgeous” (Memphis Commercial Appeal), cellist and composer Karen Ouzounian creates music from a deeply personal place. The recipient of the S&R Foundation’s Washington Award, she is sought after for her open-hearted, vibrantly detailed and fiercely committed performances. Her current and recent work includes a trio of projects developed with composer and animator Lembit Beecher: a cello concerto “Tell Me Again,” premiered with the Orlando Philharmonic; a duo recital program, “Mayrig,” weaving interviews with Karen’s mother and grandmother with music for solo cello, piano and electronics; and “Dear Mountains,” a co-composed piece for solo cello, oud, percussion and choir premiered by Cantori New York in November 2024; collaborations with theater director Joanna Settle and visual artists Kevork Mourad and Nomi Sasaki; and the world premiere of Anna Clyne’s Shorthand for solo cello and strings, which she toured as soloist with The Knights throughout Europe and the U.S. and released on Avie Records. An omnivorous musical spirit, she has collaborated with some of the finest musicians of our time, including Rhiannon Giddens, Augustin Hadelich and Kayhan Kalhor, appeared at the Marlboro, Ravinia, Caramoor and Ojai festivals, and performs regularly as a member of the Silkroad Ensemble and The Knights. She was a founding member of the Aizuri Quartet for eleven years, winning major chamber music prizes on three continents and earning a GRAMMY nomination.

For more information visit www.karenouzounian.com