(Japanese):ラフィ　ベサリアン） (Russian: Раффи Бесалян) Raffi Besalyan (Armenian: Րաֆֆի Բէսալյան, born in Yerevan) is an Armenian-American Concert Pianist.

He received an additional master's degree from Rowan University, and studied at the Manhattan School of Music with legendary American pianist Byron Janis.

[2] Besalyan tours Japan on a yearly basis for adjudication (PTNA, Osaka International Music Competition),[3] master classes, and concerts.

From the penetrating chords and piercing harmonies in the G minor Prelude Op.23 No.5, the beautiful melody leafed out and floated in the air, pouring out deeply personal inconsolable feelings.

The audience was dazzled and fully captivated by Besalyan’s bell-like tone in the music by Armenian composers Komitas and Baghdassarian, which were performed with magnificent imagination and splendid colorful changes of tonality.

(Izumi Hall, April 13, 2008) by Senshi Yokohara, Chopin Magazine July 2008[8]“Standing ovation and cries of “Bravo” and “Encore” went to pianist Raffi Besalyan... mesmerized the audience with his gracious, delicate yet powerful presentation of Rachmaninoff’s Concerto No.3.” Armenian Reporter International, New York City [9] “The flow of Baghdassarian's Prelude instantly changed the color and the air of Izumi Hall.

The rest of his repertoire, Liszt’s Mephisto Waltz, Chopin’s Etudes and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue were played with extreme perfection, Mr. Besalyan really let “the piano speak”.

Besalyan was also interviewed by Wisconsin Public Radio's Norman Gilliland on The Midday, and Dance, Drama, Decadence was aired on WPR (Madison, WI) and KHPR (Honolulu, HI).

The album features virtuoso works by Rachmaninoff, Liszt, and Ravel and premiere recordings of colorful folkloristic pieces by Armenian composers Komitas and Baghdassarian.

[16] "The Sound of Black & White" was featured on six playlists by Apple Classical Music, and was a nominee for the Album of the Year- Solo Piano on Native DSD, selected by highly qualified reviewers from hundreds submitted by 80 record labels.