MONTEREY PARK -- Before Zareh Ananian was born, his father,

[Guest]

MONTEREY PARK -- Before Zareh Ananian was born, his father, Art, bought

Zareh's mother, Hilda, a baby grand piano as a gift. She didn't use it much, but the elder

Ananian promised himself his children would.

Years later, Art Ananian points to a photograph of Zareh. There he was, donning a

tuxedo and playing a Chopin waltz for the television cameras. Zareh was 10 and had

studied piano for only a year.

Since those early days, Hilda's gift has become the vehicle for Zareh's future.

Zareh has come a long way since those early days in Monterey Park, when a music

teacher and his family realized something: The kid had talent. Zareh was learning

sophisticated Beethoven and Bach compositions almost automatically on the piano.

"I said 'My God, my son has played this?' " the elder Ananian said to himself in

disbelief at the time.

Since then, Zareh has become somewhat of a celebrity -- at least in his community.

Every day, for hours, neighbors outside have heard the sounds of a fledgling

professional artist honing his skill in a room at his home.

They've watched him grow up physically and musically.

On Aug. 27, the now 17-year-old Zareh will give a farewell concert of sorts. He will

still live at home, but he will perform his final recital before he heads off to USC to

study music.

The recital will include works from Beethoven, Chopin, Scriabin, Rachmaninoff,

Gomidas and Liszt. The recital is a fund-raiser to help Zareh pay for college and to

benefit orphanages in Armenia, his mother's native country.

For Zareh, the recital is the culmination of a series of benefit recitals he has

performed as a teenager and the beginning of what he hopes will be his professional

career.

Last year, he performed for an Armenian church in Glendale, ultimately raising

$50,000 for church improvements.

"It's a turning point," he said, sitting in the family's wood-floored piano room with a

photo album of his career nearby.

Art Ananian is ecstatic as he and his son talk about the concert. He meticulously

points out the works Zareh will perform from the evening's program. Every now and

then, Zareh interrupts his proud father to make his points.

But you can't blame the elder Ananian, a native of Syria. In eight years, his son has

gone from a 9-year-old beginner with little to no musical background to a player who

has performed for everyone from the mayor of Monterey Park to U.S. Rep. Jim Rogan

(R-Pasadena) and in venues such as Robert Schuller's "Hour of Power" program.

But the Aug. 27 show is a symbol of something else for the relatively modest San

Marino High School alumnae who rebuffs labels like "child prodigy."

College, he said, will be a bridge, allowing him to develop professionalism and

musicianship.

EASY SUMMER? HA!

Zareh had hoped to take it easy this summer, but with the recital scheduled in

August, he knew some serious practice would be necessary. It's work that Zareh

knows is a constant in the business he wants to enter, so he has accepted the demands

of musicianship with no illusions.

During the summer, he wakes up, practices about an hour, breaks, comes back and

plays more. Then, in the middle of the day, he'll divert himself and come back for

another couple of hours later in the day. When Art gets home, he'll sit in the room and

listen -- just like the neighbors outside, whom Zareh can see from the window.

During the school year, his after-school routine is essentially homework followed by

four hours of piano practice. Occasionally, he has a bad day.

"None of it's been easy," he said. "It's hard work."

EVERYDAY KID

Of course, it's not all piano, piano, piano for Zareh.

He enjoys cars -- especially fast ones like the Dodge Viper -- and he's preparing to

get his driver's license.

And girls?

"I'm working on it."

THE FUTURE

Zareh's future is a long way from the days when his father gave up his conservatory

music education in Armenia to be with his mother in Syria.

His father stands behind Zareh and his dream of becoming a touring, professional

concert musician, but he cautions his son that such a goal demands serious effort and

commitment.

"No matter how much talent you have, once you reach a certain level, the only thing

that is going to save you is practice, practice, practice," the elder Ananian said.

Zareh believes he is ready for the long, steep road ahead to fame.

"You go into the major leagues."

IF YOU GO:

* WHAT: piano recital of Zareh Ananian

* WHEN: Aug. 27 at 7 p.m.

* WHERE: Lake Avenue Church, 393 N. Lake Ave., in Pasadena

* COST: $25 to $30

* INFORMATION: Call (626) 307-5014 for tickets and more information