Vahagn Stepanyan

Vahagn Stepanyan is an Armenian music producer, music arranger, songwriter, film/TV composer, and musician whose genres have been classified as jazz, R&B, funk, fusion, pop, gospel, and film score music. His album, A New Chapter, charted at #5 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Charts and at #19 on Billboard's Jazz Charts.[1][2][3] He has collaborated with Ricky Kej, Kitt Wakeley, Nathan East, Eric Marienthal, Henrik Linder, Mark Lettieri, Greg Howe, Dave Koz, Mark Lettieri, Arun Shenoy, and Adam Hawley, among others.[4][5]

Vahagn Stepanyan
Born
Vahagn Stepanyan

(1985-07-10) July 10, 1985
Occupations
  • Music Producer
  • Music Arranger
  • Songwriter
  • Film/TV Composer
  • Musician
Years active2014 – present
Musical career
Genres
Websitevahagnstepanyan.com

Career

Stepanyan is a classically trained keyboard player, songwriter, composer, arranger, and producer. He began playing piano when he was 10 years old and later performed in jazz clubs and wrote songs for Armenian artists. He relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a music career.[6] His single, Motion, was nominated for a Hollywood Independent Music Award in the Jazz (Fusion/Bebop) category as well as being nominated for Musician of the Year by the Josie Music Awards.[7]

Vahagn released his first album, Moonlight, in 2015, which received favorable reviews.[8][9] His sophomore release, A New Chapter, charted at #5 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Charts and at #19 on Billboard's Jazz Charts and received favorable reviews.[1][2][4] The album features Dave Koz and is co-produced by Stepanyan and Kitt Wakeley.[10]

He composed and arranged the music for Armenian documentaries, The Glance of Ararat, and The Faces of War[11] as well as providing additional engineering and keyboards on Kitt Wakeley's Grammy-winning album, An Adoption Story.[12] He was featured on the single, Gravity, with The Groove Project, which includes musicians Arun Shenoy, Lonnie Park, and Matthew Shell, among others.[13]

Stepanyan performed on the Hope Anthology Project, whose proceeds went to the GMA Foundation’s Disaster Assistance Fund, which financially aided musicians, stage Hands, and crew that were affected by COVID-19. The project featured Mary J. Blige, Maranda Curtis, Fred Hammond, and Percy Bady, among others.[14] In 2023, he performed live at the NAMM Show.[15]

Awards
Year Nominated Work Category Award Result
2023A New ChapterBest Album/Best Instrumental AlbumGlobal Music Awards[16]Won
2023MotionJazz (Fusion/Bebop)Hollywood Music in Media Awards[17]Won
2023Vahagn StepanyanMusician of the Year (Piano/Keys)Josie Music Awards[7]Nominated
2022MotionBest Jazz Song/Grand PrizeAkademia Awards[18]Won
2021MotionSilver Medal (Jazz Fusion)Global Music Awards[19]Won

References
  1. "Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts - A New Chapter". Billboard. May 31, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  2. "Billboard Charts - Jazz Albums - A New Chapter". Billboard. May 31, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  3. "The Groove Project featuring Vahagn Stepanyan – "Dreams" by Bob Smith". Static Dive. April 15, 2020. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  4. "Vahagn Stepanyan Album 'A New Chapter' Out May 19". Jazz Hall. May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  5. "Vahagn Stepanyan" (PDF). Something Else Reviews. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  6. "The Pulse of Entertainment: Jazz Keyboardist Vahagn Stepanyan Releases 'A New Chapter'". Eur Web. June 3, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  7. "The Official 9Th Annual 2023 Josie Music Awards Nominees". Josie Music Awards. May 15, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  8. "Star Portrait - Vahagn Stepanyan by Hans-Bernd Hulsmann". Smooth Jazz. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  9. "Vahagn Stepanyan – Moonlight (2015) by Preston Frazier". Something Else Reviews. April 7, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  10. "Vahagn Stepanyan - Synergy feat. Dave Koz". Film Freeway. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  11. "The Glance of Ararat". Aravot. October 18, 2018. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  12. "An Adoption Story - Album Credits/Liner Notes & Thank You - GRAMMY® Winning Album". Kitt Wakeley. March 24, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  13. "The Groove Project – Gravity (feat. Vahagn Stepanyan on Piano) by Stephen Vicino". Music Existence. March 3, 2020. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  14. "United Alliance Music Group / New Day / Sony / The Orchard to Release 11-Track, The Hope Anthology Project Friday, August 28". Gospel Music Association. August 19, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  15. "Nord at NAMM 2023: Vahagn Stepanyan". Nord Keyboards. April 28, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  16. "Global Music Award Winners". Global Music Awards. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  17. "HIMA Winners 2023". Hollywood Independent Music Awards. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  18. "Conversations with Vahagn Stepanyan". Voyage LA Magazine. March 8, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  19. "Global Music Award Winners 2021". Global Music Awards. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
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