Ani Kalayjian, cello

Hailed by the Los Angeles Times as “representing the young, up-and-coming generation,” and a “superb cellist with a large, expressive, singing tone, passionate musicianship, and magnificent playing” by the Journal Tribune,  Armenian-American cellist Ani Kalayjian leads a multi-faceted career as a chamber musician, soloist, collaborator, artistic director and educator that has taken her to Japan, Australia, Canada, the Middle East, and throughout Europe and the United States.   Artistic Director of Carriage House Concerts at The Woman's Club of Englewood and Co-Artistic Director of Lyrica Chamber Music in Chatham, she is at home in diverse musical settings and sought-after for her openhearted, passionate and vibrantly detailed approach to music-making. 

At the heart of Ani’s artistic practice is her love of chamber music & interdisciplinary collaborations and the development of adventurous new works. Her most recent projects included recording Albanian composer Fatrin Krajka’s new album as well as new collaboration with a World Premiere by Polina Nazakinskaya and MORDANCE company in NYC, several tours to Jordan with Oberlin College & Lebanon performing at American University of Beirut, Lebanese American University, as well as solo concerts at Haigazian University where she performed a World premiere, ‘Yesterday is No More’ written for her and violinist Rebecca Jackson by award-winning composer Polina Nazakinskaya.  During her time in Lebanon, Ani gave outreach performances to underserved communities at St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Insan School for Iraqi & Syrian refugee children, Byblos Birds’ Nest Armenian orphanage, Karageusian Foundation, and in refugee camps.   

Ani’s passion for chamber music led her to attend various festivals including the La Jolla Chamber Music Festival in California, Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival as a Shouse Artist in Michigan and the American String Project in Seattle as well as the Lichfield Festival in England.  She has also performed at Michael Tilson Thomas’ Carnegie Hall workshop in New York, Pablo Casals Prades festival in France, Mendelssohn on Mull in Scotland, Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada as an Artist-in-Residence, Sarasota festival in Florida, Apeldoorn festival in Holland, London Masterclasses, Strings Festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, New York String Seminar, Holland Music Sessions, RNCM International Cello Festival in England, Music at Menlo and Chateau de la Moutte festival in St. Tropez.

Passionate about nurturing the next generation of artists, Ani is Cello Director at the Elisabeth Morrow School and on faculty at Dwight-Englewood School in Englewood, New Jersey and enjoys giving masterclasses to musicians around the country, such as Brandeis University, Wellesley College, La Jolla, NYU SummerStrings, and University of Washington. Ani has also given Musician Entrepreneur talks and workshops at the Royal Academy, Royal Northern College of Music, NYU, UC Long Beach, The Dwight-Englewood School, Lebanese American University, and Oberlin.  She has also been on faculty at the Horace Mann School and launched several virtual international cello festivals during the pandemic, bringing together cellists from 15 different countries from Brazil, Syria, Australia, Germany, Lebanon, and more.  Ani received an M.A. with Distinction from the Royal Northern College of Music in England as a student of Ralph Kirshbaum and a B.A. from the Mannes College of Music as a student of Timothy Eddy.

Upcoming performances include Music for Montauk Chamber Music Festival, PhiloSonia Chamber Music Series, Saugerties Pro Musica, Manor Camerata in the Catskills, Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum, Pleasantville Chamber Music Society, La Grua Arts Center in Stonington, CT, Carriage House Concerts, Lyrica Chamber Music, music and dance collaboration of Polina Nazakinskaya’s new work at Site Specific Dances in NYC, Bridgemusik Festival and more.  In June 2024, Ani took on the new role of Co-Artistic Director at The Dwight-Englewood School’s String Society for aspiring music students.  When not performing, Ani loves spending time with her husband, Ylvi and two daughters, Layla and Celine.  Keep up with Ani’s upcoming concert dates and news @anicellist on Instagram.