Explore while never going outside. 

Tigran Arakelyan, artistic director and conductor of the Port Townsend Symphony, will host a new show on KPTZ Radio Port Townsend called “Exploring Music” from 3 to 4 p.m. Sundays.

The inaugural broadcast was Aug. 23.

Arakelyan will be sharing music that has inspired him throughout the years, and also playing new discoveries in all genres, according to station officials. 

“Tigran Arakelyan’s wide reach across various genres of music brings the kind of artistic stretch I like on KPTZ,” said Larry Stein, director of programming. “He can include classical to jazz to folk genres, and go out to the experimental. Yet it all makes sense together.”

Arakelyan is an Armenian-American conductor and podcast host, and artistic director of the Port Townsend Symphony since 2017. 

He also serves as music director of Northwest Mahler Festival, Federal Way Youth Symphony, the Bainbridge Island Youth Orchestras, and assistant conductor of California Philharmonic. 

Recently, he made his Walt Disney Concert Hall conducting debut and has played alongside Sir James Galway during his induction into the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. 

“I am thrilled to join the KPTZ family as a host,” Arakelyan said. “I have been a guest numerous times since April of 2017 and love listening to KPTZ’s diverse programming. I want to thank  Phil Andrus for his support and encouragement during the past few years.” 

Although his primary passion and work are in classical music, Arakelyan said he enjoys a wide variety of genres. 

“Growing up in post-Soviet Armenia and Los Angeles, I was exposed to genres ranging from folk, jazz and pop to rock, classical, hip hop and more,” he said. “On this show I will share music that has inspired me throughout the years but will also challenge myself to discover new works in all genres to share with all of you.”

Also, there will reportedly be occasional guests from the larger Port Townsend arts scene and artists who are visiting the area to perform as well. 

Tigran won awards from The American Prize and at the Global Music Awards. Since 2009, Tigran has taken his orchestras to many unconventional venues; from bars and cideries to cafes and homeless shelters. Invited by Maestro Morlot, Tigran earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in conducting from the University of Washington where he was the first student in the inaugural class of Ludovic Morlot and David A. Rahbee.