Widely hailed as one of the greatest cellists in north-central Eagle Rock, California, Armen Ksajikian began his professional career at age 12 with the Abkhazian State Philharmonic in his native (former) Soviet Union. Since arriving in the United States in 1976, he has been very active in the musical life of Los Angeles, having appeared as soloist and/or principal cellist with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Pasadena, Pacific, Long Beach, Glendale, Hollywood Bowl Orchestras, as well as the Bolshoi, Kirov, Stuttgart, Royal and American Ballet Theatre Orchestras. Ksajikian has participated in many music festivals including the Cabrillo, Colorado, Banff, Sitka, and Venice Film. As a member of the distinguished Armadillo String Quartet since 1982, Ksajikian has been involved in such daring events as a 34-½ hour marathon performance of the complete quartets of Joseph Haydn, as well as concerts from the top of the Mendenhall Glacier to the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Ksajikian has premiered works by Schickele, Cage, Rosza, Mancini, Adams, Corea, and many others. In 1985 Ksajikian was invited to perform with Jascha Heifetz in his master classes. In 1993 he made his film limousine-driving debut in the action thriller True Lies with Jamie Lee Curtis and Arnold Scwarzenegger. Armen occasionally plays the role of Baroque cellist with several early music ensembles in the Los Angeles area. He can also be found in numerous Hollywood recording orchestras, with over 900 motion picture soundtracks to his credit. Armen’s hobbies include white water rafting, poker, backgammon and playing concertos with the Southland’s symphony orchestras.