Vili Kazasyan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vili Aram Kazasyan | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 8 December 1934 Sofia, Bulgaria |
| Died | 12 July 2008 (aged 73) Sofia, Bulgaria |
| Profession | Musician, composer, conductor, pianist |
Edmond Aram Kazasyan (Bulgarian: Едмонд Арам Казасян), best known as Vili Kazasyan (Bulgarian: Вили Казасян), (8 December 1934 – 12 July 2008) was a Bulgarian jazz musician, composer, conductor and pianist from Armenian descent.[1] He is the father of singer Hilda Kazasyan.
Kazasyan graduated from VMEI (the predecessor of the Technical University of Sofia) in 1957 prior to turning to music. His debut as a musician and a composer was in the 1950s – as a pianist in "Jazz of the Youth" (Bulgarian: Джаза на младите).[2]
He was also among the initiators of the "Golden Orphey" festival (Bulgarian: фестивала "Златният Орфей").[3]
Kazasyan has received numerous awards, including the "Sirak Skitnik" (Bulgarian: Сирак Скитник) distinction in 2005 for his general contributions to the BNR of whose big band he had been in charge for more than 30 years.[4] In the period from 1998 to 2008 the Big Band of Vili Kazasyan was produced by the producer Dobromir Slavchev.[5]
