Maestro Mlkeyan is an Honored Artist of Armenia, “Movses Khorenatsi” medal recipient, as well as Armenia’s 2nd degree medal recipient for the services provided to his motherland.
He was born in Yerevan, in 1961.
He received his primary music education in the Music School after Mirzoyan, class of violin. He then studied in Saint Petersburg, class of symphonic and choral conductor. He continued his graduate studies in the class of Emin Khachatryan, as his assistant trainee.
In 1984-1986, he was conductor of students’ choir of Komitas State Conservatory’s composition and music theory department. In 1988-1992, he was leading the youth choir of Conservatory, which won the “Grand Prix” in a republican competition. In 1992-2000, he was the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of Gyumri State Symphonic Orchestra and Gyumri Chamber Choir, at the same time.
Since 1995, he has been leading the “Hay Folk” vocal ensemble, with exceptional successes in Armenia and numerous guest tours abroad.
He was the Artistic Director of music portion of Armenian Days at EXPO-2000 international exhibition in Hanover, where he won the first prize.
He has been the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of Armenian Chamber Choir since 2000.
Under his leadership, world famous ECM Records released in 2006 of «ARS POETICA» CD of choral concert. The full information on the CD is placed in “The Gramophone” prestigious music catalogue.
The choir performed with guest tours in London, Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Geneva, Brussels, Aleppo, Damascus, Latakia, Tbilisi, Goris, Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, Hanover, Frankfurt, Strasbourg, Los Angeles, Fresno, Bergamo, Toronto, Ottawa, Niagara, Dresden (together with Philharmonic Orchestra in Frauenkirche Church).
In 2015, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Armenian Genocide, the local national orchestra and choir of Mexico performed Tigran Mansuryan’s requiem and alt concerto under Mlkeyan’s leadership (soloist Kim Kashkashyan). Within the framework of the same events, he appeared with concerts in Switzerland (Central Cathedral of Bern in Zurich), with Bern’s Orchestra and Children’s Choir, as well as in Lebanon, Argentina, Greece (Athens, Thessaloniki).
He appeared with concerts in numerous reputable concert halls, including St. Louis Cathedral, Salle Gaveau (Paris), White Hall, Smolny Cathedral, Glazunov Hall (Saint Petersburg), the EU Hall “Salle Schwietzer at the Palais de la Musique et des Congres” (Strasbourg), Teatro Donizetti Opera House (Bergamo), Frauenkirche Church (Dresden), Teatro Colon (Buenos Aires), Megaron Concert Hall (Athens).
Robert Mlkeyan is the author of numerous choral arrangements of folk songs, as well as of music written for theatre performances.