The Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra was formed over 75 years ago in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. The founder of the Armenian national symphony music Alexander Spendiarian, a student of Rimsky-Korsakov, conducted its first performance. Today the more than one hundred-piece ensemble makes its home in the Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall in central Yerevan. As the leading symphony orchestra of Armenia, it routinely performs weekly concerts. The Armenian Philharmonic is a unique orchestra in that all its members are Armenian-born and educated at Yerevan, Moscow and St. Petersburg Conservatories. [[1]] In the past the orchestra was conducted by Valery Gergiev and among the many gifted celebrities that have graced the Aram Khachaturian concert hall stage, are M.Rostropovich, S.Richter, D.Shostakovich, S.Prokofiev, D.Oistrach, R.Schedrin, L.Oborin, E.Gilels, I.Stern, L.Kogan, V.Cliburn, A.Watts, G.Kremer, V.Ashkenazy, N.Gutman, V.Spivakov. Renowned composers like Dmitry Shostakovich, Benjamin Britten, Aram Khachaturian premiered their works with the APO.

In December 1989, the orchestra toured major cities of the United States receiving critical acclaim. In commemoration of Mozart bicentennial, the Austrian Television (ORF) recorded 11 overtures with the APO. This recording was the official gift from ORF to their professional associates worldwide. Since that time the orchestra has participated in many festivals, receiving critical acclaim of the press in the US, Canada, Austria, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, UK, Iran, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon.

Since 1990, the Armenian Philharmonic has released more than 40 CDs including ASV label, which were distributed throughout the world. Some of the recordings were selected by Hi-Fi, Gramophone and BBC Classic CD magazines as Best Record of Month.

The 65-member Armenian Philharmonic Choir is founded in 1994 in order to perform the major choral works with the orchestra.

The APO is housing at the Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall.

Thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Armenian General Benevolent Union and its President Mrs.Louise Manoogian Simone, the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra and Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall are able to continue their activities on the highest professional level. [[2]]