He graduated from the Yerevan State Musical Conservatory where he studied composition under professor Edvard Mirzoyan.
At age 25 Avetisyan became the first Armenian composer honored with gold medals in the Berlin and Moscow international competitions.
Avetisyan dedicated his creative life to researching and developing the performance practice of the Armenian folk music.
Avetisyan founded the folk music department of the Komitas National Conservatory in 1978 where, under his guidance, an entire generation of master instrumentalists was trained.
He created numerous famous compositions, ballet, oratorio, film and dance music, as well as a large number of works for various folk instruments.