1934-1941 – studied at the Yerevan State Conservatory after Komitas (YSCK) in composition (prof. S. Barkhudaryan and V. Talyan) and piano (prof. O. Babasyan) classes

1942-1943 – improved his piano skills at the Moscow Conservatory (prof. K. Igumnov)

1944-1946 – improved at the Moscow Conservatory in the class of composition and polyphony (prof. Kh. Kushnarev)

1946-1948 – improved in the studio at the House of Culture of Armenia in Moscow in the composition and polyphony (prof. G. I. Litinsky), instrumentation (prof. N. Peiko), analysis (prof. V. Tsukkerman), orchestration (profs. A. D. Rogal-Levitsky and A. M. Veprik) and piano (prof. B. Berlin) classes

Since 1939 – member of the Composers Union of the USSR

1954-1990 – permanent director of the Armenian Philharmonic

1965-2008 – taught composition at YSCK

Since 1975 – member of the Cinematographers Union of the ASSR

Since 1977 – Professor of the YSCK

1941 – Impromptu for cello and piano

1946 – Polyphonic Sonata in 3 movements

1948 – Cantata about the Motherland for soloist, choir and symphonic orchestra in 5 movements (by A. Grashi and Sarmen)

1949 – Festive Overture for symphonic orchestra

1950 – Concerto in A-flat major for trumpet and orchestra (to H. Mesiayan)

1950 – Armenian Rhapsody (co-author: A. Babajanian)

1951 – Concertino for piano and symphonoic orchestra in 3 movements (to Arutiunian’s daughter, Narine)

1952 – Armenian Dances for symphonic orchestra in 5 movements

1955 – Concert Scherzo for trumpet and symphonic orchestra

1957 – Symphony in 4 movements (to T. Odenova, spouse and friend)

1957 – Armenian Fantasy for pops band (co-author: K. Orbelyan)

1960 – A Legend about the Armenian People vocal-symphonic poem in 4 movements (by A. Grashi)

1964 – Concerto-Fantasy for wind quintet and symphonic orchestra

1966 – Sinfonietta for string orchestra in 4 movements

1967 – “Sayat-Nova”, opera in three acts (libretto: H. Khanjyan)

1973 – Theme with Variations for trumpet and symphonic orchestra

1980 – Concerto for flute and string orchestra in 2 movements (revised in 2009 with a new cadenza and dedicated to J. Strauss)

1983 – Aria et Scherzo in 2 movements for trumpet and piano

1984 – Armenian Sketches suite for brass quintet in 4 movements

1986 – Sasuntsis’ dance for string quartet and piano (arrangement)

1988 – Concerto for violin and string orchestra in 4 movements (to R. Aharonyan)

1989 – Dance for 4 trombones

1990 – Rhapsody for trumpet and variety orchestra

1991 – Concerto for trombone and symphonic orchestra in 3 movements (to M. Becquet)

1992 – Concerto for tuba and symphonic orchestra in 3 movements (to R. Bobo)

1998 – Suite for oboe, horn and piano in 3 movements

2004 – Children’s Album for piano

1949 – Stalin Prize

1962 – People’s Artist of the Armenian SSR

1970 – People’s Artist of the USSR

1972 – State Prize of Armenian SSR

1977 – All-Union Alexandrov Prize (gold medal)

1983 – Honorary Citizen of the State of Kentucky, USA

1983 – Orpheus Award (USA)

1986 – Aram Khachaturian Prize

1987 – Honorary Citizen of Yerevan City

1998 – Movses Khorenatsi medal

2001 – Order of St. Mesrop Mashtots

2004 – St Sahak and St Mesrop Order (Etchmiadzin, Armenia)

2005 – Armenian Academy of Sciences Gold Medal