Quick Facts
Biography
Edmond Aram Kazasyan (Bulgarian: Едмонд Арам Казасян), best known as Vili Kazasyan (Bulgarian: Вили Казасян), (8 December 1934 – 12 July 2008) was a Bulgarian jazz musician, composer, conductor and pianist from Armenian descent. He is the father of singer Hilda Kazasyan.
Life
Kazasyan graduated from VMEI (the predecessor of the Technical University of Sofia) in 1957 prior to turning to music. His debut as a musician and a composer was in the 1950s – as a pianist in "Jazz of the Youth" (Bulgarian: Джаза на младите).
He was also among the initiators of the "Golden Orphey" festival (Bulgarian: фестивала "Златният Орфей").
Kazasyan has received numerous awards, including the "Sirak Skitnik" (Bulgarian: Сирак Скитник) distinction in 2005 for his general contributions to the BNR, of whose big band he had been in charge for more than 30 years.