Maestro Harout Fazlian, artistic director and principal conductor of the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, was awarded the prestigious Ordre des Arts et des Lettres Officier medallion at a ceremony held on December 10. The Order is given in recognition of significant contributions to the arts, literature or the propagation of these fields.
Born in Beirut, Fazlian studied the piano and violin as a child and essentially grew up in the Piccadilly Theatre where his father was a director. He moved to Canada in 1976 and later traveled to Armenia to continue his formal music education, receiving Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees and a PhD in Music Education. In 1996 he moved to Lebanon and began working alongside Dr. Walid Gholmieh at the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music. Today, in addition to his work with the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra, he is a university lecturer, the principal conductor for singer Julia Boutros and has also conducted for Fairouz. Other notable Lebanese with the award include vocalist Majida El Roumi, director Roger Assaf, president of the Baalbeck International Festival Nayla De Freige and novelist Alexandre Najjar.
