| Vahagn Stepanyan | |||
| Birth Name: | Vahagn Stepanyan | ||
| Birth Date: | 10 July 1985 | ||
| Years Active: | 2014–present | ||
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Vahagn Stepanyan is an Armenian music producer, music arranger, songwriter, film/TV composer, and musician whose genres have been classified as jazz, R&B, funk, fusion, pop, gospel, and film score music. His album A New Chapter charted at #5 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Charts and at #19 on Billboards Jazz Charts.[1] [2] [3] He has shared the stage with artists including Sheila E., and has collaborated with Ricky Kej, Kitt Wakeley, Nathan East, Eric Marienthal, Henrik Linder, Mark Lettieri, Greg Howe, Dave Koz, Mark Lettieri, Arun Shenoy, and Adam Hawley.[4] [5] [6]
Stepanyan is a classically trained keyboard player, songwriter, composer, arranger, and producer. He began playing piano when he was 10 years old. He later performed in jazz clubs and wrote songs for Armenian artists. He relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a music career.[7] His single "Motion" was nominated for a Hollywood Independent Music Award in the Jazz (Fusion/Bebop) category, and he was nominated for Musician of the Year by the Josie Music Awards.[8]
Vahagn released his first album, Moonlight, in 2015, which received favorable reviews.[9] [10] His sophomore release, A New Chapter, charted at #5 on Billboard's Contemporary Jazz Charts and at #19 on Billboards Jazz Charts, and received favorable reviews.[1] [2] [5] The album features Dave Koz and is co-produced by Stepanyan and Kitt Wakeley.[11]
He composed and arranged the music for the Armenian documentaries The Glance of Ararat and The Faces of War,[12] as well as providing additional engineering and keyboards on Kitt Wakeley's Grammy-winning album, An Adoption Story.[13] He was featured on the single "Gravity" with the Groove Project, which includes musicians Arun Shenoy, Lonnie Park, and Matthew Shell.[14]
Stepanyan performed on the Hope Anthology Project, whose proceeds went to the GMA Foundation's Disaster Assistance Fund, which financially aided musicians, stage hands, and crew who were affected by COVID-19. The project featured Mary J. Blige, Maranda Curtis, Fred Hammond, and Percy Bady.[15] In 2023, Stepanyan performed live at the NAMM Show.[16]
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | A New Chapter | Best Album/Best Instrumental Album | Global Music Awards[17] | |
| 2023 | "Motion" | Jazz (Fusion/Bebop) | Hollywood Independent Music Awards[18] | |
| 2023 | Vahagn Stepanyan | Musician of the Year (Piano/Keys) | Josie Music Awards | |
| 2022 | "Motion" | Best Jazz Song/Grand Prize | Akademia Awards[19] | |
| 2021 | "Motion" | Silver Medal (Jazz Fusion) | Global Music Awards[20] | References |