YEREVAN-SAINT PETERSBURG – In June, the Armenian surname Papoyan appeared on posters across Yerevan. Through my friendship with pianist Ilya Papoyan on social networks, I had the opportunity to meet him during his first concert in Yerevan, which led to this interview.
Ilya was born in 2001 in St. Petersburg. In 2011, he enrolled in the Secondary Specialized Music School of the St. Petersburg Conservatory under the guidance of Olga Kurnavina. From 2019 to 2024, he studied under Prof. Alexander Sandler at the Rimsky-Korsakov St. Petersburg State Conservatory. Throughout his education, Ilya has participated in master classes led by Grigory Gruzman, Pavel Nersesyan, Andrei Diev, and Alexander Mndoyants.
Since 2013, Ilya has been recognized as a laureate in various international competitions. At age 15, he became a soloist at the St. Petersburg House of Music. He has performed extensively on prominent stages in Moscow, St. Petersburg, other Russian cities, and internationally. Additionally, Ilya has collaborated with numerous academic symphony orchestras across Russia.
Ilya, at the age of 23, you already have quite an impressive list of performances. What were the advantages and disadvantages of being perceived as a musical prodigy?
I wouldn’t classify myself as a prodigy, which is typically reserved for children who excel effortlessly in a particular field. I have developed and uncovered my abilities gradually, in a continuous search that continues to this day.
Many argue that art is not a sport, yet contests continue to be organized. Having participated in them multiple times, what is your perspective on musical competitions?