Composing is an ongoing autobiographical statement. My music is a direct reflection of my essence -- that of flesh, spirit and love.

"Manookian has succeeded with music of universal and memorable appeal in an eclectic, sophisticated style."
- The Los Angeles Times

"Beautifully written [Symphony of Tears]. It is emotional, it is compelling, and it is stunning."
- Pasadena Star News

"He is a versatile musician, and this is reflected in the breadth of his compositions."
- American Record Guide

"Very moving work."
- Audiophile Audition

"He is the 'second Khachaturian'"
- Aravot Daily (Yerevan, Armenia)

"Manookian's Piccolo Sonata is a substantive, three-movement work ... this performace will go a long way toward establishing it as standard repertoire."
- Flute Talk

"It sparkles, it cavorts. Moves from brilliant passages into expressive, melodic sections, then builds back with bursts of energy without ever becoming frenzied. This piece is fresh and invigorating."
- NetStoreUSA.com

"Manookian is a powerful musician and gifted composer ... his work was dazzling in its sincere spirit with a prayerful inspiration and masterful creative styles."
- Asbarez (Pasadena, California)

"Moving and memorable ... this powerful piece will be performed hundreds of times in the future."
- Intermountain Catholic

"Its harmonic language is intoxicatingly lush. The music owes much to Mahler and Leornard Bernstein."
- The Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City, Utah)

"The evening belonged to Jeff Manookian as his powerful composition premiered. It is emotional and descriptive [with] beautiful flowing melodies and rich harmonies ... an unqualified success."
- The Salt Lake Tribune

A Grand Prize winner of the Frederick Delius Composition Competition and a triple-Grand Prize winner of the Composers Guild International Composition Contest, Jeff Manookian is one of Utah's busiest composers. A two-time commission recipient from the Barlow Endowment for Music Composition, Manookian has received additional commissions from the Utah Music Teachers Association, Utah Flute Association, Utah Centinnial Commission, Utah Arts Council, Episcopal Dioses of Utah, Cathedral of the Madeleine, Salt Lake Symphony, National Endowment for the Arts, Westminster College, Sandy City and the American West Symphony, Duehlmeier/Gritton Piano Duo, and the Abramyan String Quartet.

Manookian's music has been performed at the Kennedy Center (which was broadcast live over the internet). Ensembles and performers such as the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra (in Boston's Symphony Hall and Prague's Dvorak Hall), Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, National Armenian Opera Orchestra and Chorus, Serenade Chamber Orchestra (Armenia), Pasadena Symphony, Utah Symphony, University Musical Society of Las Vegas, Carson City Symphony (NV), American West Symphony, Salt Lake Symphony, Westminster Chamber Orchestra, Intermountain Classical Orchestra (UT), Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Gloriana Choir, Salt Lake Symphonic Choir, Contemporary Music Consortium, Monticello Medici Chamber Ensemble (CA), Park City International Music Festival, Old Church Concerts of San Francisco, Ensemble Bartok (Santiago, Chile), pianist Grant Johanessen, and numerous soloists have included Manookian's works on their concert rosters.

Several of Manookian's compositions have been published by Warner Brothers Publications, Feature Films for Families, and Windsor Editions. Manookian's works can be heard on the Albany Records, 4-Tay, MMC Recordings, Tantara, and MAF Excel labels.

As a pianist, Manookian has soloed with the Philippines Philharmonic, Mexico State Symphony, National Symphony of Bolivia, South Coast Symphony (CA), Northrdige Academy Orchestra (CA), Butte Symphony (CA), Utah Symphony, Salt Lake Philharmonic, Utah Youth Symphony, Amercian West Symphony, Intermountain Classical Orchestra, and the Westminster Chamber Orchestra. He has performed on national television in several countries and has been featured on the "Liberace Show," "Mike Douglas Show," "Joe Franklin Show," and the "Ted Mack Amateur Hour." Manookian has performed in New York's Merkin Hall as winner of the Aram Khachaturian International Piano Competitiion, Kennedy Center, Primeira Semana de Musica das Americas (Sao Paulo, Brasil), and the Park City International Music Festival.

Manookian has guest conducted the Pasadena Symphony, Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, National Armenian Opera Orchestra and Choir, Serenade Chamber Orchestra, University Musical Society of Las Vegas, Ruby Mountain Symphony (NV), University of Utah SymmerArts Orchestra, Salt Lake Symphony, Amerca West Symphony, Murray Symphony (UT), Salt Lake Symphonic Choir, and the Oratorio Society of Utah. He has been music director and conductor of the Utah Youth Symphony, Westminster Chamber Orchestra, and the Intermountain Classical Orchestra.

I'm a firm believer that the composer, performer and audience are all part of the creative equation. Ignore any of these elements and art falls on its face. I write "for" the performer and audience, all along remaining honest to my craft.

BALLADE for Harp and Chamber Orchestra
CELEBRATION FANFARE for Brass and Percussion
CONCERTO for English Horn and Chamber Orchestra
CONCERTO for Flute and Orchestra
CONCERTO for Piano and Orchestra
CONCERTO for Piccolo and Orchestra
CONCERTO for Two Pianos and Orchestra
ENDLESS ARE THE CLOUDS for Strings, Harp, Piano and Percussion
FANTASY for Violin and Orchestra
IMPROVISATIONS ON ARMENIAN FOLK SONGS for Viola and Orchestra
KHACHKAR for Alto Flute, Harp and Strings
NEXUS for Orchestra
REQUIEM for SATB Choir, Soprano, Alto, and Chamber Orchestra
SHORT SYMPHONY for Orchestra
SYMPHONY OF TEARS for SATB Choir, Alto, Boy Soprano, and Orchestra
CAPRICCIOS for Flute Quartet
CONCERT VARIANTS for Soprano Saxophone (or Clarinet) and Piano
ENCORE for Flute and Piano
FANTASY AND TOCCATA for Violin and Piano
LONTANO for Solo Flute
MOVEMENTS for String Quartet and Piano
QUINTET for String Quartet and Piano
SONATA for Alto Flute and Piano
SONATA for Flute and Piano
SONATA for Piccolo and Piano
SONATA for Trumpet and Piano
SPHERES for Flute and Piano
SONGS OF ARMENIA for Flute and Piano
STRING QUARTET "The Dances of St. Gregory"
QUINTET for Woodwing Quintet
THERE IS ANOTHER SKY for Voice, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, and Piano
TRIO for Flute, Clarinet, and Piano
TRIPTYCH for Cello and Piano
CHOPSTICKS TANGO FANTASTICO for Piano Duet
GODS OF THE WIND for Piano Solo
GRADUS Progressive Piano Repertoire in 12 Volumes
LIGETIANA for Piano Solo
NIGHT PIECE for Piano Solo
PASTICHE ON SOUTH AMERICAN THEMES for Piano Solo
PIANO SONATA NO. 1
PIANO SONATA NO. 2 (for the Left Hand)
PIANO SONATA NO. 3
PIANO SONATA NO. 4
PIANO SONATA NO. 5
SCENES OF THE SEASONS 12 Pieces for Piano Duet
TOCCATA for Piano Solo
ARCHES for Wordless Voice and Piano
CHRISTMAS MORN' for Treble Voices and Piano
EIGHT SONGS ON EMILY DICKINSON POETRY for Medium Voice and Piano
EL LAGARTO VIEJO for SATB Choir
GLORIA for SATB Choir and Piano
HAYR MER (The Lord's Prayer) for SSA or SATB Choir
PRAISE for Voice and Piano
TE DEUM for SATB Choir and Piano
THRENODIES for SSA Choir and Piano
UNDER A CLOUD for SATB Choir
YOUR JOURNEY FROM ME Five Songs for Medium Voice and Piano
GERSHWIN'S CONCERTO IN F arranged for Two Pianos and Orchestra
CADENZAS to Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1