Ardashes Agoshian is a double bassist, prolific composer, music director, conductor and academics based in Amsterdam. He has played solo double bass both home and abroad in various places, most notable venue being Amsterdam Concertgebouw. His double bass made in 1895 in present-day Czech Republic by one the most famous luthiers in his time, Benjamin Patočka, as a solo instrument.

     He is notable for his compositions and arrangements numbering over a hundred. These have been performed in Turkey as well as in various countries ranging from Canada to England by such significant names as Prof. Cihat Askin and Steinway artist Sahan Arzruni. His concerto for double bass solo and a cappella choir named “Romeo ve Juliet,” the first of its kind, was world-premiered in 2011 in a joint concert by CorISTAnbul Chamber Choir and Ensemble Vocal from Hamburg. He has also participated in CD recordings for Naxos and other companies.      

     Agoshian has recently completed his master’s degree in Early Music (Violone) with Prof. Margaret Urquhart from Conservatorium van Amsterdam. He has received his B.A., master’s and doctorate in Double Bass from Istanbul University State Conservatory with Prof. Tahir Sümer.   

     He is also a Composition and Orchestral Conducting Fellow of the London College of Music. He also studied composition and conducting with Selman Ada and Orhan Şallıel. He taught double bass and chamber music at the IUSC and is the conductor of the youth choir of the conservatory. He is the founder-director of CorISTAnbul Chamber Choir, an international chamber choir, and HayCappella, the first independent Armenian chamber choir in Istanbul. He regularly gave concerts with his Baroque ensemble at various churches in Istanbul, CorISTAnbul Baroque Orchestra. He studied as Kappelmeister and Organist in German Protestant Church, Armenian Protestant Church and Armenian Orthodox Church. He has also studied as guest conductor at many projects, staged by the Istanbul State Opera and Ballet.

     Agoshian is currently a professor at Fontys Academy of Music and Performing Arts. 

Last updated in 2022