Artur Shakhmakhchyan and Alexey Shafirov

Artur Chakhmakhchyan, violin

Armenian-Canadian violinist Artur Chakhmakhchyan made his orchestral solo debut with

the Greater Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra in 2015. He performed as a concert soloist with

orchestras in Toronto, performed several solo program recitals in Toronto and Montreal, and

played in masterclasses for renowned violinists such as James Ehnes, Noah Bendix-Balgley, and

Michael Frischenschlager. Artur has been interviewed by ‘HotDocs Festival’ 2021, and ‘The

Strad Magazine’, and is a current three-time scholarship recipient of the Armenian General

Benevolent Union’s Performing Arts Fellowship, as well as a recent fellow of the “Edik

Hovsepian Performing Arts Scholarship”. Artur holds a Master of Music degree from the

Schulich School of Music of McGill University and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Glenn

Gould School of The Royal Conservatory. Currently, Artur is pursuing a Graduate Diploma at

McGill University under the tutelage of Axel Strauss.

Alexey Shafirov, piano

Russian-born Israeli pianist Alexey Shafirov holds a Bachelor’s degree in solo piano from

the Jerusalem Academy of Music, and a Master’s degree from the Schulich School of Music of

McGill University. Alexey won several competitions in Israel and has been awarded generously

scholarships by the America-Israel Cultural Foundation, Younes & Soraya Nazarian Family

Foundation, and Jenny Panitch Beckow Memorial Foundation. Alexey performs frequently as a

vocal accompanist in festivals and opera productions such as Franz-Schubert-Institut in Austria,

and Lyric Opera Studio in Israel. Currently, Alexey is taking part in the prestigious McGill-

UdeM Piano-Vocal Accompaniment Residency.