Armenian-American cellist Jared Blajian has been praised for “speak[ing] through his cello” (Naples News). His accolades include First Prize in the Cleveland Institute of Music Concerto Competition and the Career Development Award at the Mondavi Center, and he has appeared in notable halls including Cleveland’s Severance Hall, Philadelphia’s Verizon Hall, and Carnegie Hall.

A devoted chamber musician, he has performed in concert series including El Paso Pro Musica, Northwest Bach Festival, the Strings Music Festival, the Chamber Music Society of the Carolinas, and several others. He has collaborated with the Tesla and Argus string quartets, Zuill Bailey, Jinjoo Cho, and legendary violinists Itzhak Perlman and Donald Weilerstein. Additionally, he participated in the Heifetz Institute’s inaugural “Ensemble-in-Residence” program.

Blajian has attended festivals including Music@Menlo, the Perlman Music Program, the Heifetz Institute, the Music Academy of the West, ENCORE Chamber Music, and has participated in the cello masterclasses at the Sitka Cello Seminar and IMS Prussia Cove. His chamber music mentors and coaches have included David FInckel, Wu Han, Gilbert Kalish, Sharon Robinson, Jaime Laredo, and members of the Cleveland, Guarneri, Juilliard, Cavani Quartets. A graduate of the Cleveland Institute and the University of Southern California, Blajian’s major cello teachers include Dr. Melissa Kraut and Ralph Kirshbaum. He pursued further study with Marcy Rosen. 

Passionate about sharing the joy of music with a variety of traditional and non-traditional audiences, Blajian frequently plays in hospitals, nursing homes, and shelters. He has participated in the Community Engagement Seminar at the Perlman Music Program, and has extensive experience with public speaking and outreach projects.

In addition to his performing life, Blajian is a proud teacher who has taught at the Pascale Music Institute and the Thurnauer School of Music. He currently teaches through Soyulla Artists. 

In his free time, Jared enjoys tennis, ping-pong, cooking, collecting cookbooks, learning about string instrument makers, and watching timeless romantic comedy movies — typically those of which are set in New York City. 

He plays a “mystery” cello, probably crafted by an Italian maker in the early 20th century, and a bow that was made in Paris by Andre Vigneron, circa 1910.