John Harutunian studied piano with Gladys Ondricek in Boston. His early studies in composition were with Henry Lasker at Newton High School. At the age of 16 he made his concert debut as piano soloist with the Boston Pops. He then entered Wheaton [IL] College, majoring in composition and continuing his piano studies under Reginald Gerig.
While at Wheaton he returned to Boston to appear as soloist in his own “Fantasy-Gavotte” at Symphony Hall Youth Concerts with Harry Ellis Dickson and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He pursued graduate work in both composition and musicology at Harvard University and at the University of Pennsylvania, studying under David Del Tredici, Ralph Shapey, George Rochberg and George Crumb. In 1981 he received his Ph.D. in musicology from UCLA.
Dr. Harutunian is the author of Haydn’s and Mozart’s Sonata Styles: A Comparison (Edwin Mellen Press). His publications have also appeared in Westwind: UCLA’s Journal of the Arts, and in The Journal ofMusicological Research. Dr. Harutunian has taught at Bridgewater State College, Gordon College and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
His performances as a recitalist in the Boston area include concerts at the New England Conservatory with musicians from the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He has also recorded five CDs. He presently serves as organist for the Newton Presbyterian Church in Newton, Massachusetts.
Dr. Harutunian is listed in the International Who’s Who in Music.