Today we’d like to introduce you to Patricia Khachkalyan Gomes.
Hi Patricia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a 22 year old conductor from Armenia/Portugal based in the UK.
I founded an international youth orchestra based in London, called Nova Philharmonia, where we welcome young professionals from all over the world to play classical music repertoire from different countries. Nova was named after Armenian musician and poet Sayat Nova, with the latin roots for ‘new’, meaning new people, new music and new ideas.
I study oboe and conducting at the Royal College of Music since 2021 and it’s now my 6th year living in London. I now travel around the world as a conductor and I am getting so many opportunities specially as a young artist.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I always had enough support from my parents and family, so the journey has been pleasant despite all the challenges.
I think everything that happens only makes us more resilient. From moving countries after high school alone, meeting new people, getting fluent in a different language all paid off after a very short time.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a big advocate for supporting our own culture and at the same time learning from others.
With Nova Philharmonia and many other personal projects, I always find myself learning and presenting repertoire that showcases one’s cultural heritage.
For instance, back in June 2025, we celebrated the National Day of Portugal with a full Portuguese programme dedicated to the Youth including an International premiere of a piece by a living composer from Madeira Island.
This not only teaches the public about what the rest of the world brings us, but also lets the musicians explore new music and perhaps learn new ways of performing from them.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I’ve always been a very creative kid. From creating art, listening to very different genres of music.
But also a very good student academically – I have always been extremely passionate about astronomy and aerospacial engineering. For the longest time I wanted to become a pilot, or work as an engineer. But music has always been part of my nature and what always felt right for me and my parents, also musicians themselves, supported me throughout the whole journey.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/patriciakhagomes
