Arec L. Jamgochian , Violin Born in Silver Spring, Maryland, US, in 1996, Arec was exposed to classical music since he was 3 while participating in cultural activities and talent shows of his church. At age 4 he studied violin very briefly, restarting at age 8 with his elementary school orchestra. He was recognized as a gifted child and was recommended to attend Levine School of Music in Greater Washington, D.C. A scholarship recipient at this school, Arec studied with Christof Richter from spring of 2004 to March 2007 and since then has been a student of Margaret Wright. Arec L. Jamgochian has been playing in Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras (MCYO) since the fall of 2005 as a scholarship recipient where he has performed with Chamber Strings and Young Artists. Among many solo and orchestra performances in various recitals and concerts, Arec has made three singing and violin appearances playing in the Alexandria-Gyumri Sister City Festivals in VA. In 2007 he played at Andrew Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C as part of a trio which he continues to perform wit and in January of 2008 participated in a master class with world-renowned Jonathan Carney, concertmaster of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, where he played Vivaldi's Concerto in G Minor for Violin (Allegro). Other recent performances include pieces by Bach, Haydn, Bohm, and Gomidas. In 2005-2006, Arec played with his school Advanced Orchestra as they won the first place in District and State level competitions for public schools. In 2006 he won 3rd and in 2007 1st place in the Intermediate Division of the Cogen Concerto Competition at Levine School of Music. In 2008 his trio won 1st place at Maryland State Music Teachers Association, Strings Plus Ensemble Festival Jamgochian comes from an artistic family. His father is a professional painter-printmaker and his uncle is a lyric operatic singer. He is an 8th grade distinguished honor roll student at the Takoma Park Middle School Magnet program. His violin is 1912 Joseph Gorretelli; grade 3 copy of STRADIVARI.