1915 – During the Armenian Genocide, he lost all his relatives and was sent to an orphanage, where he spent several years

From the orphanage, he moved to Greece, where he received his primary education. Soon, the Melkonian School opened in Cyprus, and A. Shishyan went to study in Nicosia. Here, in parallel with general education programs, he also received primary music education in the class of B. Kanachyan. Acquiring basic musical knowledge, he participated in the rehearsals of the school choir and played several wind instruments.

1930 – With the sponsorship of AGBU and on the advice of B. Kanachyan, he left for Yerevan with 10 graduates to receive higher education. He was accepted to the oboe department of the music school (now after R. Melikyan), simultaneously acquiring the necessary knowledge in a number of theoretical and historical-musical disciplines and composition.

1934 – entered the composition department of the Yerevan State Conservatory after Komitas (YSCC) (prof. V. Talyan, then S. Barkhudaryan and G. Stepanyan)

1939 – headed the department of the Leninakan Music College after Kara-Murza (replaced G. Egiazaryan)

1940 – was exiled to the Altai Territory, leaving his pregnant wife alone

1954 – returned to Armenia and continued teaching at the Leninakan Music College after Kara-Murza (among his students were T. Mansuryan, G. Chtchyan, E. Yerkanyan, M. Israelyan, A. Khachatryan, R. Korkotyan, A. Nersisyan, P. Shuzhunyan, A. Ikilikyan, G. Akopyan, Ts. Oganesyan and others)

A. Shishyan and his wife, musicologist A. Mekinyan, died on December 7, 1988, during the Spitak earthquake.

Ballet “Vahagn”

Piece “Memories” for violin

Overture “Festive”

5 symphonies

Numerous vocal series and choral works

Deputy of the Congress of the Union of Composers of the USSR from Armenia

Deputy of the Leninakan City Council

Order of Honor of the Supreme Council of the ArmSSR

Deputy of the Executive Committee of the Leninakan City Council

Laureate of republican competitions

1992 – Music School No. 6 of the city of Gyumri, founded in 1976, by cellist T. Adamyan, was named after A. Shishyan

2012 – for the 100th anniversary of the birth of A. Shishyan, a collection of his works was published for the 1st time, with the direct participation and editing of composer E. Yerkanyan.

2023 – In Gyumri, through the efforts of Professor M. Mkhitaryan-Margaryan of the Gyumri branch of the Yerevan State Conservatory of Culture, the next collection of works by A. Shishyan was published. It included the composer’s piano, vocal and choral works, the piece “Memories” written for violin, and the piano score of the trumpet concerto.