Rita Kassabian

Rita Kassabian is an Armenian composer in Lebanon. She was fascinated by the piano from an early age: from 1996 till 1997, she followed the advice of her mentor and internationally known late pianist Walid Akl who encouraged her to excel in music. She studied piano, harmony, and analysis, then was admitted to Schola Cantorum de Paris (France) in the composition/orchestration class of Patrice Sciortino in September 2001. A maember of the French Société des auteurs, compositeurs et éditeurs de musique, she is also the chairwoman of the music associations ARKOncerts and A.R.K., which promote young talent. Awards ( Paris ) 2004 * Second prize in orchestration with honour 2005 * first prize in orchestration with honour * prize of composition in chamber music with honour 2006 * prize of composition in solo instrument with honour 2007 * first prize in composition for chamber music * first prize in composition for solo instrument * first prize of composition for chorus * first prize of composition for symphonic music Compositions * April 2005 Impromptu for 2 flutes, cello, 4 timpani and 1 harp (composition prize 2005) * December 2005 Divertimento for solo tenor saxophone, edited by L’Harma