Varujan Cozighian, concertmaster of the Bucharest Philharmonic and the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra, has passed away.

Varujan Cozighian, a talented violinist and concertmaster, graduated from the Conservatory of Bucharest under the guidance of maestro Garabet Avakian. He won numerous international awards, including the Ruggiero Ricci Prize in Geneva and third prize at the 'George Enescu' International Competition. At just 24 years old, he was appointed concertmaster of the Bucharest Philharmonic, where he had a significant influence for 22 years. After 1982, he moved to Spain, contributing to the development of the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra.

A remarkable moment in his career was his return to the Romanian Athenaeum in 1994, when he performed Édouard Lalo's Spanish Symphony. The 'George Enescu' Philharmonic announced that the lifeless body of the maestro will be laid in the rotunda of the Athenaeum on October 24, between 9 AM and 12 PM.