Kristina Arakelyan was born in 1994. In 2006, she was granted a scholarship to study at the Purcell School of Music as a joint first study pianist and composer, and in 2012 commenced her studies as a composer at the Royal Academy of Music supported with a scholarship by Raffy Manoukian.Kristina won first prize in the BBC Proms Inspire Young Composers’ competition, resulting in broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 performed by the BBC Singers(2011). In July 2011, she was commissioned by Music for Youth to write a choral piece for Canzonetta girls’ choir which was performed at the Schools’ Prom in the Royal Albert Hall.Kristina’s other awards include Overall Cup winner of EPTA composition competition (2009), the David Cox prize (2012), first prize in the Shakespeare 4000+ Orchestra of the Swan competition (2014). As a pianist she was one of the winners in a competition resulting in a joint recital in Wigmore Hall. Her compositions have been performed in venues including Wigmore Hall, Vatroslav Lisinsky Hall (Croatia), Real Conservatorio Superior de Música Madrid, St. Martin-in-the-Fields and the Southbank Centre.