Levon Parikian
 Principal Conductor

Levon Parikian was brought up and educated in Oxford. Music has been part of Lev’s life from as far back as he can remember. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music, and worked for ten years as a freelance timpanist and percussionist, playing with all the major London orchestras and often with the City of Oxford Orchestra. At the same time, he studied conducting with Michael Rose and David Parry, and participated in masterclasses with George Hurst at the Cranford School of Music. Lev completed his conducting studies at the St. Petersburg Conservatoire with the legendary Russian teacher, Ilya Musin.

In the recording studio, Lev has worked as Assistant Conductor with the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields and the Philharmonia. In July 2000, Levon was one of forty contestants worldwide invited to the Cadaques International Conducting Competition.

Lev has had a long association with the City of Oxford Orchestra both as player and conductor. His triumphant Remembrance Day concert with Jack Gibbons and COO in 1999 led to a further collaboration with Jack in a highly successful Gershwin concert at Queen Elizabeth Hall in July 2000.  From 1999, Levon was the Orchestra’s Chief Guest Conductor and in 2005 he was appointed Principal Conductor.