Levon Chilingirian is a world-renowned violinist, educator, and festival director. Born in Cyprus to Armenian parents, his musical journey began in London at the Royal College of Music, where he is now a professor. His international career was launched by first-prize wins in the BBC Beethoven Competition (1969) and the Munich Duo Competition (1971). Most significantly, he founded the Chilingirian Quartet in 1971, which quickly became one of the most celebrated and active string quartets globally, touring over fifty countries with a wide-ranging recorded repertoire. Chilingirian also performs as a soloist and chamber musician, notably featuring on the Amadeus soundtrack. He is the artistic director of the Mendelssohn on Mull Festival and the Pharos Festival in Cyprus. He was awarded the OBE in 2000 for his services to music.