Following a summer-long search for a new conductor, the Whidbey Island Community Orchestra has appointed Tigran Arakelyan for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

Arakelyan has held conducting positions with the California Philharmonic, Los Angeles Youth Orchestra, California State University Northridge, Discovery Players, Northridge Youth Philharmonic, the Echo Youth Orchestra and the Venicians One Theatre.

He was the founder conductor and artistic director of Cadence Chamber Orchestra in Seattle, an innovative orchestra that premiered new works and played at unconventional venues.

His resume also includes conductor roles with other musical organizations in Washington, California and Illinois.

Seattle Weekly described his interpretation of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 as “lyrically phrased” and having “excellent tempo.”

A strong advocate of new music, he has performed regional and world premieres by Iosif Andriasov, Stepan Rostomyan, Jon Brenner, Arshak Andriasov, Felipe Rossi and Eleanor Aversa among others.

Arakelyan conducted the Pacific Northwest premiere of Paul Hindemith’s Kammermuzik No. 1. He is a recipient of Nellie Cornish and Welland Jordan scholarships, Cornish College of the Arts Performance Grant and the first place winner of the Armenian Allied Arts Competition.

The mission of the Whidbey Island Community Orchestra is to foster a positive musical experience for its musicians and the community.

For more information, contact James Lux at 321-4221.