#cup 29

Name: Nara Avetisyan

Age: 20

Hometown: Yerevan, Armenia

Location of meeting: University Circle Starbucks

Drink: Hot Chocolate 

Favorite Color(s): Pastel colors and black

Awkward photo of the coffee shop.

I swear I've seen that lady before .... ? #memorydisplacement

And here is the lovely Nara Avetisyan, Cup 29.

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"I began my musical studies composing on the piano at the age of 5. Nothing really serious. My brother played piano, and I learned to play his pieces by ear. My mother would hear the piano playing from the other room and think it was my brother, but then she would walk in and see that it was me."

Ms. Avetisyan was admitted to a school specialized for music at the age of 6, and won her first competition - in Lithuania - when she was 7 years old.

"After winning the competition, it was obvious that I would become a musician. My parents actually didn't want me to be a musician, especially my mother [who is a pianist]. She felt that being a musician required too much work and it was very hard to be successful for a woman. She would try to keep me away from 'the black box', as she called it. But she always gave me room to think about what I wanted to do, and I chose music. It's my life. I can't imagine myself doing anything else. If I had a second choice, I would choose music again."

Prior to her attendance at the Cleveland Institute of Music, she studied at the Yerevan State Conservatory for two years.   

"It's not that I have anything against the Yerevan State Conservatory. But I had to change environments and I wanted more [out of my education]. Professionally, it was the correct choice. I feel very lucky to be in [Sergei] Babayan's studio."

Though he has a reputation for being an incredibly strict teacher, Nara believes Babayan possesses "a very rare syntax of traits" that every individual needs.

"Some performers are not meant to be teachers, and some teachers aren't meant to be performers," Nara explains. "He is everything - a great musician, performer, teacher, and human."

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In your free time...

"I love to spend and share every minute with my friends. I truly feel that I have found my real good friends here. We go to the museums often, like the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA).

I like to watch action movies and movies that are psychologically deep. I really like the films of Kubrick and Tarantino. 

I also enjoy listening to jazz of the 20s, French jazz, and rock music."

5 items that you must have with you at all times.

"My phone, a pencil, my hair brush (I'm obsessed. If I take it out, I have to immediately brush my hair.), money (Sometimes I just take the card because I don't want to carry my clutch.), and planner. I used to take my camera with me everywhere. Not anymore because my bag is filled with books, but I love taking pictures. Just for fun, not professionally. I hope someday that I will be able to take a photography class."

What is your favorite book?

"That's a hard question because in each book you find your most favorite thing, and that is why you like it. But I would have to say anything by Dostoevsky and Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita. Dostoevsky is so sarcastic. I often find myself comparing his books and writing to Shostakovich. They're very connected. Very sarcastic and ridiculing the system back then and people's stupidity. Well...Dostoevsky was before the Soviet Union, but you see my point.

I also like detective stories."

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What is your greatest fear?

"I'm afraid to try and fail. I know this is something I need to work on and I'm trying to change that in myself. You can't have that fear as a musician. Being afraid of failing when you don't even try...*shakes head disapprovingly*.

I guess I'm also scared to be disappointed. In my mind, I have this idealistic image of how I would like the world to be...but then I become disappointed with reality."

What could the world use more of? Or even less of?

"Greediness, jealousy, lies. Those are three disgusting things for me. I don't accept them ever. People should stop lying...and maybe if they stop lying to themselves, they will stop lying to others. The world is missing honesty. People forget about or don't see the most beautiful things. They go after things like money and fame. And as a result, they lose themselves as humans.  

People should also think about themselves more before criticizing others."

What could you do to better your own life? 

"I could be more courageous, more confident. I like to overanalyze things, and usually choose the safest, less risky option, the one that is going to be the least harmful for everyone and myself. I think, but don't act.

When you change your habits, you should try to change them now as a young person. It will be better for you. We have to be happy with everything we do. Do your best, and just by doing that, even if you don't win competitions or anything, you will become a stronger person."

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If you could sit down and have dinner with only one person, dead or alive, famous or not famous, real or fictitious, who would you choose?

"Martha Argerich! It doesn't even have to be dinner. I just want to meet and talk or play for her! Anything! In my mind, she is the goddess of piano...untouchable, unreachable, exceptional. People who have met her have said that she is so kind, modest, humble, open, and 'pure.' You can feel the purity in her playing. 

I mean, how many women do we have who play better than guys? I'm not a feminist or anything like that, but men have it, in some ways, easier than women. Men are physically stronger - it takes less effort for them to achieve something. Maybe there are more exceptions like Martha, but they are quite rare. I've noticed that, in general, all the best professionals  - writers, painters, architects, designers, scientists, composers, chefs, etc. - are men. My Granny said that men only have one mind - they can’t have 2 minds at the same time. They think about one thing and they do it well, while women think of 1,000 things at the same time."

Name the 3 most important qualities you look for in a real friend.

"Trust, honesty, and love. If these 3 things exist, then it (the friendship) is perfect.

They must be very open and honest. Friends should always wish each other the best. Unfortunately, not all friendships are based on mutual love or honesty. A real friend will be able to give me a critical opinion. They can stop me from doing stupid stuff, or encourage.

I feel that friendships are better than relationships. Relationships can be fun and nice, but a friendship will stay around longer. If it's true, it will stay alive until the very last day."

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How are you going to make an impact when you get out into the real world? 

"With my music, I can give people an hour and a half of happiness...allow them to drift into their own world, and give them all the best moments they want to have. I can't give people money, but I can give them emotions. When I'm older, I want to have a foundation where I can make dreams come true...support the individuals who struggle financially in education, masterclasses, competitions, and concerts. If you see a talented and hardworking person, you have to help. It's our duty to help each other."

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It's time for an encore. What is/would be your signature piece? 

"Something very deep, slow, emotional. Something that will make people remember the best, or even saddest, moments in their life. It should touch the strings of the heart. And there would be a question mark at the end. Some unsaid words.

Music is about the best feelings in the world. Everybody imagines his or her own scenes. Everyone takes it so personally. You can play how you want but another person can have totally different associations.  

I would probably choose something by Scriabin or Brahms."

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Additional Life Lessons

1) "Don't expect a lot from other people. Don't expect anything back. If anything, help the person who can't do anything for you - you're doing it for yourself."

2) "Care less about others' lives. Do your best in your own. Be the best version of yourself. Not for others, but for yourself."

3) "Treat others as you would love to be treated. You're human. Be a nice person because you want to be nice, especially if someone doesn't like you, not because you want them to be nice to you. Does that make sense? Don't lose your humanity. The most important thing in life is to stay human. Don't be cruel."

Photo Credit: Kayoko Miyazawa