Hovhannes Arakelovich (Ioannes Romanovich) Nalbandian (1871–1942) was a Russian and Soviet violinist and music educator. Born in Simferopol to a poor Armenian family, he was the son of a paint-shop owner. He began studying the violin at the age of nine and was already giving concerts in many cities of southern Russia by the age of eleven, including a performance at Ivan Aivazovsky's home in Crimea.
In 1886 Nalbandian entered the St Petersburg Conservatory, where he studied with Leopold Auer. He graduated in 1894 with the title of laureate, then continued his training in Berlin under Joseph Joachim, receiving enthusiastic reviews. Pablo Sarasate also held his playing in high regard. Nalbandian taught for a time at Gizhitsky's music school in Riga, where Yakov Magaziner served as his assistant.
After returning to Russia, he pursued an active concert career, appearing frequently at charitable events and giving one or two annual solo recitals in the Small Hall of the St Petersburg Philharmonic. From 1895 he was Auer's assistant at the St Petersburg Conservatory, and in 1908 he became a professor. He continued teaching at the conservatory for the rest of his life.
Nalbandian's pupils included Mischa Elman, Efrem Zimbalist, Ilya Lukashevsky, Yuri Yankelevich, Cecilia Hansen, and Roman Matsov. His students described him as a gifted, improvisatory teacher rather than a dry instructor. His most distinguished pupil was Jascha Heifetz, whom Nalbandian taught for a year and a half in 1910–1911, before Heifetz began studying directly with Auer. Nalbandian supported the Heifetz family organizationally and taught the young violinist without charge.
Nalbandian continued to teach and perform in Leningrad. He was named Honored Artist of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic in 1926 and Honored Art Worker of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic in 1937. He died in evacuation in Tashkent in 1942.