Since 2010, Sergey Smbatyan has served as the Artistic Director of the Khachaturian International Competition. Under his leadership, the competition has gained increasing popularity and enhanced its stature on the international stage. As part of his vision, he regularly invites renowned musicians from around the world to serve on the jury and artistic board. Notably, in 2016, a “Conducting” category was introduced at his initiative, which has since become an important platform for the professional development of young conductors.
Sergey Sambatyan’s efforts to continuously advance the competition are notable. In 2020, when numerous challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the competition’s traditional format, it was through Smbatyan’s initiative that the competition was successfully held online, incorporating cutting-edge methods in music that made it a landmark event in the context of performing arts competitions.
Thanks to his efforts, since 2023, the competition has also been held in China, contributing to the broader recognition of Aram Khachaturian’s legacy across Asia.
As the competition’s Artistic Director and an advocate for the continuous education and development of young musicians, Sergey Sambatyan is committed to supporting the winners. He creates opportunities for them to collaborate with industry professionals, fostering their career advancement and international recognition on prestigious stages.