Arthur Meschyan is a unique and original personality. He is well known in sunny Armenia and outside the southern republic. From a young age he composed music, during his student days he acted as a rock musician. Then he was recognized at home as an architect of the highest level. Meschyan spent many years in North America, but he never forgot about his roots.
Arthur Meschyan: facts from the biography
The future Armenian architect, artist, musician, composer was born in the capital of Armenia on March 3, 1949. As a child, Arthur fell in love with music and drawing. At the age of seven, he was already mastering the piano and violin at a music school, he was engaged in choral singing. Later he independently learned to play the guitar. Even then Meschyan began to invent musical compositions. The repertoire of songs performed by Arthur was very wide: he sang in several languages. The musician's work was reflected in his work in the choir of the Cathedral.
School time is over. Arthur becomes a student at the Yerevan Polytechnic University, where he entered the architectural and construction department in 1966. Within the walls of the university, Meschyan does not forget about his passion for music: together with his friends, he creates a rock group that did not even have a name at first. It was simply called: the music group of the Faculty of Architecture.
In the creative team, Arthur composed songs, was responsible for vocals, violin, keyboards and guitar. By the 3rd year, the group was giving concerts in public with might and main, which had tremendous success. The musicians managed to combine national motives with the growing strength of rock. The collective got a name: Meschyan called the group "Apostles".
Further work of Arthur Meschyan
The popularity of the "Apostles" in the republic grew, even the censorship could not prevent it. The guys also performed in Moscow and Estonia, then in universities of other Soviet republics. Meschyan also had a chance to speak at the international youth forum in Poland.
Having received the coveted university diploma, Arthur took part in the development of an international airport project in the capital of Armenia. He had to overcome the prejudices of his superiors - a gifted rock musician who preached "values alien to Soviet society," many considered unreliable.
Artur Stepanovich almost always managed to combine work in his specialty with creativity in music. He appeared on the republican TV - sang songs live. He also took part in the musical design of the films "Resurrection" and "Ancient Country".
In the 80s, Meschyan headed an architectural workshop created under the Armenian government, developed projects for several architectural structures. But by the end of the "perestroika" decade, Artur Stepanovich, together with his family, had realized his dream - he moved overseas. He, his sons and his wife settled in Boston. At first, the emigrants were very tight with finances. The livelihoods of the Meschyan family were provided by concerts.
In the mid-90s, the Armenian authorities turned to Meschyan with a proposal to become the chief architect of the republic's capital. He agreed, returned to his beloved homeland and started interesting work. At the suggestion of Meschyan, almost immediately the city underwent major transformations in the difficult sphere of urban planning. These innovations met with resistance from certain forces in the government. Having disagreed with the city leadership, Meschyan left his post and returned to Boston.
And only in 2018, after high-profile political events in Armenia, Meschyan again becomes the chief architect of his native Yerevan.
