Composer. Yardumian was the tenth and last child of Armenian clergyman Rev. Haig Yardumian from the Ottoman Empire. He taught himself piano and composing at a young age, and was mentored by his older brother Elijah, a pianist who had studied at Philadelphia's Curtis Institute. By the age of twenty Yardumian had completed most of his most popular piece, "The Armenian Suite" for orchestra. At that time he joined the Swedenborgian "Lord's New Church Which Is Nova Hierosolyma" in Bryn Aythn, Pennsylvania, where he settled. He married Ruth Seckleman (an assistant to Leopold Stokowski, a renowned conductor who encouraged Yardumian's musical efforts). Together they had thirteen children, including pianist Vera and painter Nishan Yardumian. Yardumian spent World War II in the army, part of the time in the Philippines. His work had attracted the attention of Eugene Ormandy, who in 1945 conducted his "Desolate City" at a Philadelphia Orchestra concert. This was the start of a long partnership between them. Ormandy championed Yardumian's work, premiering a great deal of his compositions and also designating him the composer-in-residence ("composer laureate") of the Philadelphia Orchestra (1949-1964). Yardumian found musical inspiration to a degree in Armenian music, but also worked out a twelve-tone system of his own. His works feature many religious and mystical aspects, and despite being twelve-tone in nature is not severely dissonant or harsh. A theme from his "Armenian Suite" was used as a signature for Voice of America news broadcasts. Some of his other works include two symphonies, oratorio "The Story of Abraham", mass "Come Creator Spirit" (unique for being a Catholic work penned by a Protestant), and the string quartet "Cantus animae et cordis". He died of a heart attack at age 68 and is buried in a wooded grove close to the church he served as musical director for most of his life.

Composer. Yardumian was the tenth and last child of Armenian clergyman Rev. Haig Yardumian from the Ottoman Empire. He taught himself piano and composing at a young age, and was mentored by his older brother Elijah, a pianist who had studied at Philadelphia's Curtis Institute. By the age of twenty Yardumian had completed most of his most popular piece, "The Armenian Suite" for orchestra. At that time he joined the Swedenborgian "Lord's New Church Which Is Nova Hierosolyma" in Bryn Aythn, Pennsylvania, where he settled. He married Ruth Seckleman (an assistant to Leopold Stokowski, a renowned conductor who encouraged Yardumian's musical efforts). Together they had thirteen children, including pianist Vera and painter Nishan Yardumian. Yardumian spent World War II in the army, part of the time in the Philippines. His work had attracted the attention of Eugene Ormandy, who in 1945 conducted his "Desolate City" at a Philadelphia Orchestra concert. This was the start of a long partnership between them. Ormandy championed Yardumian's work, premiering a great deal of his compositions and also designating him the composer-in-residence ("composer laureate") of the Philadelphia Orchestra (1949-1964). Yardumian found musical inspiration to a degree in Armenian music, but also worked out a twelve-tone system of his own. His works feature many religious and mystical aspects, and despite being twelve-tone in nature is not severely dissonant or harsh. A theme from his "Armenian Suite" was used as a signature for Voice of America news broadcasts. Some of his other works include two symphonies, oratorio "The Story of Abraham", mass "Come Creator Spirit" (unique for being a Catholic work penned by a Protestant), and the string quartet "Cantus animae et cordis". He died of a heart attack at age 68 and is buried in a wooded grove close to the church he served as musical director for most of his life.

Bio by: Paul S.