Loris Tjeknavorian was born in Iran in 1937. After he had studied violin and piano at the Tehran Conservatory of Music, he studied composition at the Vienna Music Academy where, in 1961, he graduated with honors. Shortly after his graduation four of his piano compositions and his ballet Fantastique for tree pianos, Celeste and percussion were published by Doeblinger in Vienna. From 1961 to 1963 Tjeknavorian taught music theory at the Tehran Conservatory of Music. At the same time, he was appointed director of the National Music Archives in Tehran and was in charge of collecting and researching traditional Iranian folk -music and national instruments. In 1963, back in Austria, Prof. Carl Orff granted him a scholarship, which allowed him to reside in Salzburg and to complete his opera "Rostam and Sohrab".

In 1965, Tjeknavorian began to study conducting at the University of Michigan, From 1966 to 1967 he was appointed composer in residence at the Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, and from 1966 to 1970 head of the instrumental and Opera Departments at the Moorhead University in Minnesota.

In 1970, the Iranian Cultural Minister offered Tjeknavorian a "position as composer in residence" including principal conductor to the Rudaki Opera House Orchestra in Tehran. He then conducted a number of major operas including his own works, such as his Fairytale opera "Pardis and Parisa" and the Dance drama "Simorgh". In 1975 Tjeknavorian signed an "Exclusive Conducting" contract, with the RCA recording company and made many successful recordings with leading orchestras, such as the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, etc.

Tjeknavorian has conducted international orchestras throughout the world: in Austria, UK, USA, Canada, Hungary, Copenhagen, Iran, Finland, USSR, Armenia, Thailand, Hong Kong, South Africa, Denmark, Israel, etc. His own compositions have been performed by major orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Halle Orchestra, the Philharmonic Orchestra Helsinki, the American Symphony Orchestra in New York, the Tehran Symphony Orchestra, the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra, the Haifa Symphony Orchestra, the Mexico Symphony Orchestra, the London Percussion Virtuosies, the Strasbourg Percussion Ensemble and English Chamber Orchestra, etc.

In 1989, Tjeknavorian was appointed Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra (APO). During his eleven years collaboration with the APO, his recordings for ORF (the Austrian radio and television station) and ASV (an English recording company) achieved world-wide recognition, they frequently toured Europe, the United States, Canada, Iran and Lebanon. In three successive years, from 1991 to 1993, the APO was the resident orchestra in the ORF benefit program "Licht ins Dunkel" in Vienna.

In 2000, Tjeknavorian resigned from this position in order to be able to devote more time to composing and conducting other orchestras.

In the course of his career, Tjeknavorian has made about 100 recordings (with RCA, Philips, EMI, ASV, etc.) and written more than 75 compositions (symphonies, operas, a requiem, chamber music, concerto for piano, violin, guitar, cello and bipa (Chinese lute), ballet music, choral works and an oratorio. And over 45 Film musics.

Tjeknavorian's immediate plans, as a conductor, include a concert as Composer and Conductor with Vienna Symphony Orchestra, performances at the San Francisco Opera House, at the Contemporary Music Festival and the Vienna Music Festival in Hong Kong and Bangkok; and Austrian premiere of his opera "Rostam and Sohrab" in the Festspielhaus in St. Poelten , etc.

For up to date information please reffer to chronology page.