David Karapetyan is a self-taught, prize-winning composer and pianist whose music merges deep mathematical structure with Romantic expressivity. His love of structure and precision helped him earn a Ph.D. in Mathematics, though classical music has always been his vocation—an obsession that began suddenly at age twelve, particularly with the German tradition. Without formal training, he taught himself to play and compose on the piano shortly thereafter, developing a rigorous yet emotionally charged style. Until very recently, he had been entirely self-directed in his compositional journey, with no institutional support and under great hardship. That said, he is deeply grateful to Tim Ribchester, whose insights helped unlock his compositional voice and who continues to be a valuable mentor.

About four years ago Karapetyan became fascinated anew by the work of Johann Sebastian Bach, particularly the recordings of the English Suites, Partitas, and single, double, and triple concertos by Murray Perahia, which is all he listened to for a period of about six months. This obsession only deepened with András Schiff’s recordings of the Well-Tempered Clavier, which became the soundtrack to his life for an entire year. This immersion in these works, and Bach’s Clavier Übung in general, profoundly transformed his compositional style. It inspired compositions for piano, small chamber ensemble, and choir that blend counterpoint, rhythmic dance sequences, and strident harmonies, resulting in a distinctive sound that is both modern and rooted in a mathematical yet spiritual, sensual, and expressive tonality.

Karapetyan further honed his craft through the Universal Edition Composition Mentoring Program with composer and percussionist David Moliner. During the program, he composed a new piece, which Mr. Moliner recently premiered at the Musikverein. Karapetyan also recently participated in the Berlin Academy of American Music (BAAM) composers workshop, founded by conductor Garrett Keast, with instructors that included composers Reiko Füting, Jonathan Dawe, Mathew Quayle, and Aviya Kopelman. The workshop culminated in the BAAM ensemble performing and recording Karapetyan’s piece Contrapunctus, arranged for chamber ensemble. His talent has been recognized in several competitions, most recently being shortlisted for the composition prize at the 8th Manhattan International Music Competition.

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Dr. Karapetyan received dual Bachelor’s degrees in Mathematics and English Literature from the University of California, Berkeley, where he attended on a Regents’ Scholarship. He went on to earn a Ph.D in Mathematics from the University of Notre Dame, supported by the prestigious Schmitt Fellowship. His deep affinity for mathematics plays a central role in his music, nurturing an intuitive ability to create structure and harmonic density. This natural sense of form and harmony is at the heart of his compositions, fueling the romantic intensity and movement that defines his work.