Mikayel Hakhnazaryan has been the cellist of the Kuss Quartet for sixteen years and the principal cellist of the Munich Chamber Orchestra for ten years.
Chamber music lies at the heart of his musical work, representing his greatest passion and enabling him to connect deeply with other musicians and his audience.
In addition to the Kuss Quartet, the Armenian Piano Trio, founded in 2020 and comprising pianist Sofya Melikyan and violinist David Haroutunian, also plays a significant role in his musical life.
He regularly performs with renowned musicians such as Viviane Hagner, Miklós Perényi, Mirijam Contzen, Mischa Maisky, Dénes Várjon, Maurice Steger, Sarah Maria Sun, and Alexander Lonquich.
With the Kuss Quartet, Mikayel Hakhnazaryan is a frequent presence in major concert halls, including Wigmore Hall in London, the Berlin Konzerthaus, the Mozarteum in Salzburg, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, and Teatro La Fenice in Venice.
Born in Armenia, Mikayel has remained deeply connected to his homeland. After graduating from the Armenian State Conservatory, he continued his studies at the Tibor Varga Academy of Music in Sion under Marcio Carneiro and completed his soloist diploma with Prof. Ivan Monighetti at the Basel Music Academy. During his time at the Tibor Varga Academy, Mikayel regularly appeared as a soloist, chamber musician, and member of the chamber orchestra.
A particularly valuable inspiration in his musical career has been the long-standing collaboration and friendship with cellist Steven Isserlis, who also introduced him to Prussia Cove. For over 15 years, Mikayel regularly participated in the “Open Chamber Music” weeks there.
In Armenia, Mikayel Hakhnazaryan has performed as a soloist with the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra and the State Symphony Orchestra. He has also collaborated in a “play & lead” role with the Armenian Chamber Orchestra.
He is a sought-after principal cellist, having performed with numerous prestigious orchestras, including the Basque National Orchestra, Lucerne Symphony Orchestra, Camerata Bern, Camerata Salzburg, Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Basel Chamber Orchestra, Gstaad Festival Orchestra, and Cappella Andrea Barca.
In recent years, Mikayel has regularly appeared as a guest with the Berlin Philharmonic and performed with their chamber music ensembles, such as the 12 Cellists and the Scharoun Ensemble.
He has taught masterclasses for Jeunesses Musicales, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, and other renowned institutions. Since the winter semester of 2021/22, he has been a lecturer for chamber music at the Karlsruhe University of Music.
In April 2023, his solo CD Inner World, featuring works by Schumann, Rachmaninov, and Khachaturian, was released on the Rubicon label.
Mikayel plays a cello crafted by Andrea Castagneri in 1735.