Dr. Sarkis Baltaian is a distinguished concert pianist, chamber musician, recording artist, and
esteemed pedagogue, recognized internationally for his exceptional artistry.
Praised by critics for his “beautiful tone and ability to project even the most delicate
pianissimos,” he has been compared to George Gershwin and Oscar Levant for his interpretation
of Gershwin’s Concerto in F. Dr. Baltaian made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1999 and has since
performed extensively as a recitalist and concerto soloist with major orchestras throughout the
United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
A prizewinner in national and international competitions, Dr. Baltaian has appeared as a guest
artist at leading festivals including the Aspen Music Festival, Casalmaggiore International Music
Festival, Holland Music Sessions, Bad Bertrich Klaviersommer, Pan Pacific Music Festival,
Mammoth Lakes Music Festival, and the Plovdiv International Chamber Music Festival. He has
recorded for radio and television and has been featured in live broadcasts and interviews on
NBC, NPR, KUSC Los Angeles, K-Mozart Los Angeles, WMFT Chicago, Bulgarian National
Radio and Television, Classic FM Bulgaria, among others.
A dedicated and sought-after teacher, Dr. Baltaian’s students have won major national and
international competitions and have been accepted into premier institutions such as the Eastman
School of Music, Peabody Conservatory, New England Conservatory, Manhattan School of
Music, Oberlin Conservatory, Cleveland Institute of Music, USC, UCLA, Rice University,
Cornell University, UC Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara, Pomona College, and NYU.
A passionate advocate for the musical education of young artists, Dr. Baltaian has served on the
piano faculties of the Casalmaggiore Music Festival in Italy, the Pan Pacific Music Festival in
Australia, the John Perry Academy in California, and as a chamber music coach for the Junior
Chamber Music program in Los Angeles. He is in demand as a clinician, regularly presenting
master classes at universities across the United States, and is frequently invited to adjudicate for
organizations including the Music Teachers National Association, Music Teachers Association of
California, Junior Bach Festival, and the Southwestern Youth Music Festival.
Dr. Baltaian began his piano studies at the age of four with Rositza Ivancheva at the “Dobrin
Petkov” Music High School for gifted students in his native Bulgaria. He continued his
education at the University of Southern California, where he received his Bachelor of Music,
Master of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees under the mentorship of the distinguished
pedagogue and concert artist John Perry, for whom he also served as a teaching assistant.
Dr. Baltaian has held full-time faculty appointments at the Colburn Conservatory and the
University of Alabama in Huntsville. He currently serves as the Director of Instrumental Music
at the Orange County School of the Arts and is a member of the music faculty at the Pasadena
Conservatory of Music.
esteemed pedagogue, recognized internationally for his exceptional artistry.
Praised by critics for his “beautiful tone and ability to project even the most delicate
pianissimos,” he has been compared to George Gershwin and Oscar Levant for his interpretation
of Gershwin’s Concerto in F. Dr. Baltaian made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1999 and has since
performed extensively as a recitalist and concerto soloist with major orchestras throughout the
United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
A prizewinner in national and international competitions, Dr. Baltaian has appeared as a guest
artist at leading festivals including the Aspen Music Festival, Casalmaggiore International Music
Festival, Holland Music Sessions, Bad Bertrich Klaviersommer, Pan Pacific Music Festival,
Mammoth Lakes Music Festival, and the Plovdiv International Chamber Music Festival. He has
recorded for radio and television and has been featured in live broadcasts and interviews on
NBC, NPR, KUSC Los Angeles, K-Mozart Los Angeles, WMFT Chicago, Bulgarian National
Radio and Television, Classic FM Bulgaria, among others.
A dedicated and sought-after teacher, Dr. Baltaian’s students have won major national and
international competitions and have been accepted into premier institutions such as the Eastman
School of Music, Peabody Conservatory, New England Conservatory, Manhattan School of
Music, Oberlin Conservatory, Cleveland Institute of Music, USC, UCLA, Rice University,
Cornell University, UC Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara, Pomona College, and NYU.
A passionate advocate for the musical education of young artists, Dr. Baltaian has served on the
piano faculties of the Casalmaggiore Music Festival in Italy, the Pan Pacific Music Festival in
Australia, the John Perry Academy in California, and as a chamber music coach for the Junior
Chamber Music program in Los Angeles. He is in demand as a clinician, regularly presenting
master classes at universities across the United States, and is frequently invited to adjudicate for
organizations including the Music Teachers National Association, Music Teachers Association of
California, Junior Bach Festival, and the Southwestern Youth Music Festival.
Dr. Baltaian began his piano studies at the age of four with Rositza Ivancheva at the “Dobrin
Petkov” Music High School for gifted students in his native Bulgaria. He continued his
education at the University of Southern California, where he received his Bachelor of Music,
Master of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees under the mentorship of the distinguished
pedagogue and concert artist John Perry, for whom he also served as a teaching assistant.
Dr. Baltaian has held full-time faculty appointments at the Colburn Conservatory and the
University of Alabama in Huntsville. He currently serves as the Director of Instrumental Music
at the Orange County School of the Arts and is a member of the music faculty at the Pasadena
Conservatory of Music.
