Nvart Andreassian’s professional journey is nothing short of extraordinary. A conductor, musicologist and cultural program manager, she has lived, studied, and worked across the globe – Turkey, France, Belgium, Brazil, Uruguay, China and Russia. Yet, at the heart of her journey has always been Armenia, where she studied and ultimately returned to build her life.

 

Nvart was born in Istanbul to a family of Armenian intellectuals. Her father was an architect, focused on studying Armenian architecture and miniature art. He was also a key figure in Istanbul’s Getronagan Armenian High School, co-founding its student union and leading cultural programs.

 

“I grew up in that school,” Nvart recalls. “I attended classes and listened to my father’s lectures. In 1965, he visited Ani and Kars, documenting Armenian architectural monuments and sharing his findings during his lectures upon his return. For the first time in 1966, the Armenian community of Istanbul learned about these monuments. That environment greatly shaped who I am.”

 

 

From a young age, Nvart dreamed of studying music. She studied piano with two Armenian teachers who had graduated from the Paris Conservatory. Each left a lasting mark: Anahit Anesyan instilled discipline, while Goharik Ghazarosyan, a composer, helped Nvart unlock her creativity and potential.

 

“The school’s student union had a choir, and I sang in it. One day, Sirvard Garamanukyan, a composer from Istanbul, came to visit. She asked me to step forward, lead the choir and play the piano. I was just nine years old, but I managed to impress her. She helped me see my potential. When someone offers help, take it. A helping hand can lift you up”, Nvart reflects.

 

Another crucial moment came when her father introduced her to a Czech conductor visiting Istanbul with the Philharmonic Orchestra. His advice was simple yet life-changing: work hard. That advice became her guiding principle. Later, when the visiting opera singer Gohar Gasparyan suggested she study in Armenia, Nvart wholeheartedly accepted the idea. At 15, she made her first trip to Armenia.

 

 

Nvart enrolled at the Romanos Melikyan Music College, focusing on conducting and continuing her piano studies. “My teacher, Herman Terteryan, worked tirelessly with me. Years later, I discovered he was the younger brother of celebrated composer Avet Terteryan. That realization strengthened my resolve – I knew I had potential that needed to be realized.”

 

 

After graduating, Nvart continued her studies at the Paris Conservatory, specializing in French music and serving as an assistant conductor at the Paris Opera. “During a rehearsal, the jury praised my work. That’s when I realized that success comes not from connections or family, but from hard work,” she reflects.

After three years in France, Nvart’s career took her to Belgium and then back to France, to Lille. She worked with orchestras and choirs, sometimes rehearsing up to 60 hours a week, with multiple concerts each week.

 

 

In the late 1990s, invitations began pouring in from around the world. Nvart conducted and organized music festivals in Brazil, Uruguay, China, and finally, Russia. However, tired of the cold Russian winters, she decided to return to Istanbul.

 

 

In 2009, as Armenia and Turkey signed a normalization agreement, Nvart and her cousin decided to take action. By 2010, they had founded the Armenian-Turkish Youth Symphony Orchestra, bringing together 35 musicians from Armenia and 35 from Turkey.

 

“Armenian musicians came to Istanbul for 15 days, performed in the city’s largest venues and shared meals. The concerts were a huge success,” Nvart recalls.

 

“Music was our language, and there was no room for conflict – our goal was the music. The culture that orchestrated the genocide had no connection to this shared experience."

 

Nvart continued working in Istanbul, conducting orchestras and teaching opera and modern performance art at two conservatories. But one day, she woke up and asked herself: “Why am I still here? I could be living and working in Armenia!”

 

 

Eventually, Nvart realized her true home was Armenia. “There’s a Turkish saying: ‘The fox’s journey ends at the fur shop.’ When I first came to Armenia to study, I already knew I’d return one day. I spent 15 years without a home, without a space to call my own. I’ve always loved plants, but I couldn’t keep any,” she confesses. 

 

When Nvart reflects on Armenia’s challenges, she points to deep-rooted issues that have persisted due to centuries of foreign domination. "There’s no real competition here; most positions are filled based on connections. Our struggles trace back to the 11th century, when Armenia lost its independence. Today, we mix foreign words into our speech and even into social media posts – this too is a sign of how we were once subjugated. Language is an essential part of our culture. The musical scene in Armenia faces the same struggles: either it leans too much toward the West, or it’s completely stagnant. It’s one thing to deny the existence of our ancient culture and unique language, but becoming subjugated to others is another. We are living with both extremes."

Nvart believes that pulling an individual out of this ‘hole’ is easier than lifting an entire group. However, this does not mean we should stay silent. Acknowledging our problems is crucial because healing only begins when we recognize them. Being Armenian, according to Nvart, is not just about having Armenian citizenship or spending summers in Armenia. True Armenian identity requires speaking the Armenian language, which, she explains, reflects the mindset of the Armenian people. Without it, you may never discover who you truly are.

“There’s stagnation everywhere. Wherever I go with a program, the focus always turns to money,” she says. “And when it comes to preserving Armenian music, it’s just as vital as protecting our language and identity. All of these elements are pieces of the same culture. We need to speak up and offer our support, but not in a way that criticizes. Now that we have a state and nationhood – things we’ve dreamed of for thousands of years – we must cultivate and grow them. This is our final opportunity. If we squander it, we’ll regret it for another thousand years.”

 

At 72, Nvart continues her work, eager to pass on her five decades of experience to the younger generation and those ready to use it for their professional growth and the progress of Armenia.

 

“Our country needs young professionals with fresh ideas,” she says. “But it’s just as important to value the wisdom of experienced experts. To encourage repatriation, Armenia must show its willingness to welcome and support its diaspora. The state, along with its institutions, should encourage and create programs to attract Armenian specialists back home. The diaspora must also be a key stakeholder, as we’ve all longed for the state that we now have.”

 

 

Now settled in Armenia, Nvart has finally bought her own home, where her beloved plants thrive in the warm corners she has created.