Arno Babajanian was born in Yerevan, Armenia. By the age of 5 his extraordinary musical talent was clearly apparent, and at the suggestion of the composer Aram Khachaturian he was enrolled two years later at the Yerevan Conservatory. In 1938, he continued his studies in Moscow with Vissarion Shebalin. He later returned to Yerevan, where, from 1950-1956, he taught at the conservatory. It was during this period (1952) that he wrote the Piano Trio in F sharp minor. It received immediate acclaim and was regarded as a masterpiece from the time of its premiere.

Subsequently, he undertook concert tours throughout the USSR and Europe and in 1971 he was named a People’s Artist of the Soviet Union. As a composer Babajanian was active in most genres, even writing many popular songs. Much of Babajanian’s composition is rooted in Armenian folk music and folklore, combined with the virtuosic style of Rachmaninov and Khatchatourian, with his later works influenced by Prokofiev and Bartók.