Friends of Music Presents Pegasus The Orchestra

Stamford - On Sunday, December 7 at 3 PM, Friends of Music of Stamford, NY presents Pegasus: The Orchestra, performing its Folk Inspirations program. Featuring three of Pegasus’s principals— Ariel Horowitz (violin), Yasmina Spiegelberg (clarinet), and founder and artistic director Karén Hakobyan (piano)—listeners will be swept from the intricate Spanish folk melodies of de Falla to the raw and energetic Romanian melodies of Bartók; from the joyful Armenian folk melodies of Khachaturian to Lutoslawski’s bold and modern approach to folk music. The program will also feature works by Schoenfield, Poulenc, and Horowitz. Admission to this last concert of the season is free of charge, thanks to the generosity of the Robinson-Broadhurst Foundation and individual donors. This event is hosted by the First Presbyterian Church at 96 Main Street, Stamford, NY. 

Pegasus: The Orchestra is a celebrated New York–based nonprofit founded in 2017 by pianist, conductor, and composer Karén Hakobyan. Reimagining the orchestra for a new era, Pegasus defies traditional models with bold programming, artistic flexibility, and a mission to elevate emerging artists and bring the orchestral experience to broader, more inclusive audiences. Under Hakobyan’s direction, Pegasus has collaborated with world-class soloists, premiered original arrangements, and performed at Lincoln Center, Kaufman Center, DiMenna Center, and many other top venues, while holding residencies at Monira Foundation and Mana Contemporary. With a composer-arranger at its helm, Pegasus continues to push artistic boundaries, bringing transformative performances to concert halls, communities, and digital platforms alike.

Armenian-American conductor, pianist, and composer Karén Hakobyan is a versatile force on the international music scene. Since making his Carnegie Hall debut at age seventeen, he has performed in major concert halls across Armenia, Argentina, Mexico, Germany, the UK, Belgium, France, Japan, and the United States. Karén is the Founder, Principal Conductor, and Artistic Director of Pegasus: The Orchestra, based in New York. A top prizewinner in multiple international piano and composition competitions, Hakobyan holds degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, Mannes College of Music, and the University of Utah. His performances have been broadcast on WQXR (New York City), WFMT (Chicago), WSKG (New York), Argentine National Radio, Monterrey’s Op. 102 (Mexico), Armenian National Radio, Al Jazeera TV, Public TV of Armenia, and Voice of America TV.

Swiss-French clarinetist Yasmina Spiegelberg is the laureate of several international and national competitions, including the Rotary International Competition Madrid Velazquez, the Frances Walton Seattle Competition, and the USC Concerto Competition. Additionally, she was awarded the Special Prize at the 2nd Vienna International Music Competition and the Golden Medal at the 4th Manhattan International Music Competition. Based in NYC, Yasmina is an alumna of Ensemble Connect, the resident ensemble of Carnegie Hall, which features extraordinary young musicians from around the globe. She has appeared in renowned concert halls around the world, performed as a guest soloist with numerous orchestras, and been broadcast live as a soloist on KUSC (California) and KING-FM (Washington).

 Violinist, composer/songwriter, and community organizer Ariel Horowitz joined the 2020 Concert Artists Guild roster for North American management and enjoys an active touring schedule as a soloist and as one-half of the Vision Duo ensemble. As a composer, songwriter, and avid improviser, Ariel's original music centers on themes of healing, community, and liberation. She has performed her compositions and songs around the world, including at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.