Tamar Eskenian
Flute, Shvi, Baroque Flute, Duduk, and Voice

For Tamar Eskenian, music is a powerful means of storytelling and building cultural bridges, a passion that reflects in her mastery of both Western and Eastern classical music traditions.

Her diverse repertoire spans from early Armenian from pre christian times,till 5th-century
music to European Baroque and contemporary compositions. A gifted and versatile flutist, Eskenian is not only proficient in modern and baroque flutes, but is also particularly remarkable
for her expertise on the shvi, the traditional Armenian flute.

In addition, she sings Armenian liturgical and traditional music,
drawing deeply on her Armenian roots and bringing these
ancient sounds to life.

aside from the significant impact she makes in the world of music, her familial connection with Gomidas Vardapet who was a monumental figure in Armenian music  also plays an  important role for her.

Eskenian studied modern flute at the prestigious Academy of Music in Basel with Kiyoshi Kasai and at the Mozarteum University Salzburg with Irena Grafenauer. She further
specialized in historically informed performance on the baroque flute (traverso) at the Schola
Cantorum Basiliensis with Marc Hantaï.

Her dedication and artistry have earned her numerous accolades and prizes, including the gold medal at the International Music Competition Berlin 2018, the Kiefer-Hablitzel Prize in collaboration with the Schweizer Tonkünstlerverein, and a finalist position at the Concours National d’Exécution Musicale in Switzerland.

Her commitment to musical excellence has led her to perform in some of the world's most
renowned venues.

She has appeared with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra under Daniel
Barenboim in iconic concert halls such as London’s Royal Albert Hall, Paris’ Salle Pleyel, Berlin’s Staatsoper, and Buenos Aires’ Teatro Colón. She has also performed with the Pan Armenian Orchestra and the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra at the State Opera of Armenia in Yerevan, as well as with the Armenian World Orchestra at Paris’ Théâtre du Châtelet under Alain Altinoglu.

Additionally, Eskenian has collaborated with musicians from the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra,
Bayrische Rundfunk Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Staatskapelle Berlin.

In 2017, she made her chamber music debut at Carnegie Hall in New York. Tamar performed from a young age at prestigious events including the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival in Germany, the La Folia Festival of Early Music in Switzerland, the Lucerne Festival, the BBC Proms in London, and the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland.

Eskenian’s passion for music is evident in her commitment to both traditional and contemporary
repertoire composed specifically for her, while also performing centuries-old Armenian folkloric and liturgical music. Her mastery of the Shvi allows her to breathe new life into these ancient traditions.
However, she also has a passion for researching historical Armenian and European music and
sharing her knowledge through lectures at institutions such as the World Music University in
London and the University of Seoul in Korea.Tamar is  based in Switzerland.

As a chamber musician, Eskenian has co-founded several ensembles, Her performances have
been broadcast on major radio stations, including Radio SRF, RTS, and several others, reaching a wide audience.

She has had the opportunity to work with esteemed musicians such as James
Galway, Aurel Nicolet, Emmanuel Pahud, Barthold Kuijken.

Tamar Eskenian’s music bridges cultures and traditions, making her a unique and dynamic
presence on the global stage. Whether performing ancient Armenian songs or contemporary
works, her authenticity, passion, and exceptional artistry captivate and inspire her audiences.