Armenian composer Alexander Grigori Arutiunian (b. 1920). Graduated from the Yerevan Conservatory's piano and composition department. Professor at the Yerevan State Conservatory. He has been honoured several times as one of Soviet prominent composers and is the recipient of the National Academy's superior award-golden medal. Many share the opinion that Arutiunian is the successor to the tradition laid down by Komitas Vardapet to present Armenian music to a wider international audience.