Born: August 17, 1979 Primary Instrument: Piano
David Satian was born in Armenia (August 17,1979) in a family of known dynasty of composers. He represents the 3rd generation of composers in his family. His father Aram Satian(1947) and grandfather Aram Satunts (1913-1990, Peoples Artist of Armenia, awarded with the Silver Medal of Alexandrov) are famous composers who were members of the Composers Union of USSR. Grandfather's brother Ashot Satian(1906-1956) was a Chairman of the Composers Union of Armenia, Laureate of the USSR State and Stalin Premiums (Gold Medal).
Folowing the footsteps of his ancestors David has started from the age of 6 to attend Music school, then at 14 he studied in Music College and by the age of 17 Satian was accepted by the Armenian State Conservatory (Composition and Theory Department), where he obtained his BA and MA Diplomas with honour in 2002. Following his graduation in a same year David has been improving his composer qualification at the Maastricht Conservatory in the Netherlands and successfully completed the course in 2004.
From 1987 he started to take part as a composer in different National and later International Competitions and Festivals. In 1996 “AMADEUS” Young Composers Competition (presented: “Strange Times” for chamber orchestra), he was awarded with a Gold Medal. Satian’s compositions were performed in Armenia, Italy, Russia, Germany, Holland, USA, etc.
In April, 2003, his composition “Non-Stop” has been performed during the “Traces” international festival of new music in the Netherlands and this work was chosen as one of the best pieces presented in that event. Later he was commissioned to write a new work “PASS” for a famous Dutch brass ensemble “Orkest De Volharding” that has been performed during the ensemble’s 2007 concert touring and included in their repertoire. In April 2007, after premier performance of this work in Amsterdam, Lois Andriessen, to whom this piece was dedicated, has been expressing his positive opinion and approving it.
David has been actively engaged as a jazz pianist and producer as well and from the age of 17 he had experience of playing with many highly qualified and experienced jazz musicians and Bands. In January, 2003, he became a winner among the pianists in a well known International Jazz Competition for soloist performers “Leiden Jazz Award” and in 2008 he won the 2nd Prize in a prestigious Montreux Jazz piano competition in Switzerland. As a music arranger working with different software programs, David has made a numerous arrangements for albums, theatre productions, films,etc.
