Positive Motions Foundation
Mikael Avetisyan received his Master’s Degrees in Opera-Symphony Conducting and Ethnomusicology, and proceeded to complete his Doctoral Degree at Yerevan State Conservatory under the instruction of two leading professors, Maestro Yasha Voskanian and Maestro Ohan Durian.
From 1987 to 1989, parallel to his studies at Yerevan State Conservatory, Avetisyan completed a course in conducing in the class of Professor Iliya Musin at St. Petersburg State Conservatory. He is a diplomat of the 35th Kirill Kondrashin Conductors Master Classes held in the Netherlands by Sir Edward Downes and Peter Eotvos.
Starting in 1992 Avetisyan regularly performed with the Opera and Ballet National Academic Theater Orchestra and National Radio Symphony Orchestra in Yerevan. In 1994 he was chosen the Principal Conductor of Yerevan State Symphony Orchestra; and subsequently in 1997 he was appointed the Music Director and the Principal Conductor of the Armenian State Philharmonic Orchestra.
Avetisyan has conducted the USSR State Symphony Orchestra and a number of European and Russian Orchestras in France, Netherlands, Greece, Spain, Russia and Georgia. His recordings with the Moscow Symphony Orchestra were released on RCD.
From 2002 to 2007 Avetisyan was conductor with the New Valley Symphony Orchestra. Presently he is the Music Director of the Armenian Society of Los Angeles Choir, and an instructor of composition and conducting at the International School of Music in Glendale. For his artistic achievements and 2004/05 concert series, Avetisyan was honored with the City of Glendale and County of Los Angeles’s Artistic Achievement Diamond Award. In 2007 he showcased The Bruno Walter National Conductors Preview with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra in Jacksonville, FL.
MAESTRO FRANK FETTA has been the conductor and artistic advisor of the Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival since 1985. He is also the music director/conductor for the Culver City Symphony and the Torrance Symphony. In addition, he holds the same position with the Marina Del Rey Summer Symphony, which is sponsored by the County of Los Angeles. Fetta is also the principal conductor of the Nevada Opera Theatre.
In June of last year, Fetta conducted the Culver City Symphony in the world premiere of Sinfonia Concertante by Damian Montano, featuring the Calico Winds. Last summer, he conducted another world premiere, Pacific West, by Sir John Dankworth, when Sir John and Dame Cleo Lane appeared with Fetta’s Marina Del Rey Summer Symphony. Maestro Fetta also continues in his position as the conductor for the prestigious Zachary Foundation International Vocal Competition.
As a conductor, Fetta has collaborated with the Riverside Symphony, the Los Angeles Opera, Sinfonia Mexicana, Inland Dance Theatre; Fresno Ballet, Symphony and Opera; the Pasadena Symphony, the Honolulu Symphony, Opera A la Carte, the Toledo Opera, and the San Diego Symphony. Among the fine artists he has conducted are Julian Lloyd Webber, Judy Collins, Louis Lebherz, Suzanna Guzman, Eugene Fodor, Leila Josefowicz, Diane Schuur, Daniel Rodriguez, Lorna Luft, Vicki Carr, and Eduardo Villa.
Growing up in New Jersey, Fetta’s early passion for music led him to the piano and organ. He still coaches, accompanies, and guides the careers of vocalists and instrumentalists, and serves as organist at Corpus Christi Church in Pacific Palisades. Recently he has happily achieved the new title of “grandpa.” Maestro Fetta lives in Los Angeles with his artist/inventor wife, Susan. Their son, Raphael, is an actor living in New York City.