Singer Elvina Makaryan Found Dead

GLENDALE–Renowned Armenian jazz singer Elvina Makaryan was found dead Monday in her apartment in Glendale. Local police are investigating the death.
With her death, Makaryan leaves behind a great legacy in contemporary Armenian music, having reshaped a genre by working under the direction of famed composer Konstantin Orbelyan and others.
"What a miracle!" exclaimed the great Aram Khachatourian after listening to her performance. "How could I not have heard of her until now?" continued the maestro while enthusiastically applauding. The young rising star, Elvina Makarian, was only 16 years old when she began singing and delighting audiences.
Makaryan was born in Yerevan. She graduated with honors from the Tchaikovsky music school of and later the Komitas conservatory. She studied to become a pianist but deep in her heart she always knew she belonged on the big stage. She was only 12 when she participated in a music festival at the Philharmonic Hall of Yerevan. She won the first award at the festival; but most importantly she won the hearts of her audience who would later follow her art for the next four decades.
At the age of 14 she received an invitation to be the soloist of Robert Amirkhanyan’s newly opened jazz band. Two years later she received another offer, this time from Constantin Orbelyan to join his famous Yerevan State Entertainment Band.
Makaryan has adonrned many stages around the world and her music has captivated both Armenia’s and non-Armenia’s alike.
In 1973 young Elvina was awarded with the Grand-Prize at the First World Music Awards in Moscow. Later that year she received her second Grand-Prize this time at the 10th World Music Awards in Berlin.
Makryan has been living in the United States and has released three CDs and numerous music videos. She recently opened her a music studio to train a new crop of singers and talent.