Ara Topouzian (born in 1969) is an Armenian musician who began playing Armenian and Middle Eastern music in 1991. He plays the

kanon Kanon may refer to: Buddhism * Kanon, a Japanese name for Guanyin, a Buddhist spiritual figure Media and literature * ''Kanon'' (video game), a Japanese visual novel by Key, later adapted into anime series * ''Kanon'' (manga), a manga by Chih ...

Biography

In 1991, he formed American Recording Productions (ARP) with the intent to record and preserve this type of world music. This record label has produced over thirty recordings of Armenian and Middle Eastern music, including one of Topouzian's albums, ''Live from Detroit''. In 2012, Topouzian was awarded the Kresge Artist Fellowship. He was among 24 literary and performing artists who received the 2012 Kresge Artist Fellowships, which provide support metro Detroit artists. He was also invited to the Virginia Commonwealth University Symphony, performing a composition written for the Kanun by VCU Music Professor and Composer Doug Richards entitled "Ben Seni Variations.". In 2013, Topouzian received a grant from the

John S. and James L. Knight Foundation The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, also known as the Knight Foundation, is an American non-profit foundation that provides grants for journalism, communities, and the arts. The organization was founded as the Knight Memorial Education ...

to produce a documentary on the history of Armenian music and the musicians from Detroit, Michigan. On March 16, 2015, Topouzian released a film documentary on Detroit Public Television entitled Guardians of Music: A History of Armenian Music in Detroit. On March 27, 2015, Iit was announced that Topouzian was the 2015 Artist in Residence in Farmington Hills, Michigan. This is an award given each year to a resident of Farmington or Farmington Hills, Michigan who displays exceptional talent and artistic accomplishments. Topouzian performed a concert of Armenian music with proceeds benefiting the City of Farmington Hills Cultural Arts Division that honored him with the Artist in Residence award on January 23, 2016.

Other Performances

In 2014, Topouzian joined the Mark Gavoor Ensemble to perform a concert of Armenian folk music in Walla Walla, Washington for Whitman College. HOUR Media featured a story about Ara Topouzian.

Discography

Live from Detroit: Ara Topouzian Ensemble

Khnjook!

Stringed Tranquility

Faces of Bravery

Whispers of Ellis Island

Harmonic Classics

Eastern Winds

Full Circle

For The Children of Armenia

Near Eastern Ride
* Cafe' Makam
Zamperla
* In Transit
A Miracle of Birds (2012)
wit
Joshua Davis

Homage: Ara Topouzian Quartet (2015)

Film documentaries

''(Music from Ara Topouzian is used)''
The Armenian Americans (2000)

The Armenians, Story of Survival (2001)
* The Lighthouse (2001)

Images of the Armenian Spirit (2003)

The Armenian Genocide (2006)

Orphans of the Genocide (2014)
* Guardians of Music: A History of Armenian Music in Detroit (2015)

Educational films

World Music: A Cultural Legacy
(2000) Published by Glencow Division, McGraw Hill/Macmillan Press An educational audio package in teaching students the different forms of world music. Music from Khnjook! The Ara Topouzian Ensemble was utilized for this project.
Our Musical World: The Middle East & North Africa
(2012) Each Unit includes: broad discussions of under-emphasized topics in Western education; stories and interviews from the musicians, educators, or youth of the culture-groups discussed, and wonderfully creative musical samples. Our Musical World, (5.1 Book 5 / Video 1 ) -- looks at the culture and music of Armenia. Ara Topouzian - narrates & demonstrates the Kanun and Armenian music—which evolved over grave injustices imposed by the former Ottoman Empire.

Non-profit organizations

Topouzian also serves on the Board of Directors for the Michigan Economic Developers Association. In 2014, he began his second term and as chairman of the organization. In 2014, Topouzian joined the Board of Directors of Creative Many (formerly Artserve) In 2013, Topouzian left the City of Novi as their economic development director and was appointed CEO of the Troy Chamber of Commerce. In 2017, Topouzian was appointed by State of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to Michigan Council of Arts and Cultural Affairs.

Awards

In 2013, Topouzian received the Mike Conboy Professional Development Award for outstanding contribution t
Michigan Economic Developers Association
In 2015, Topouzian received the 2015 Overall Winner Diversity Business Leader Award from ''Corp!'' magazine for recognition of outstanding leadership in diversity and multiculturalism in the State of Michigan. In 2016 and 2017, Topouzian received the Best of Detroit from HOUR magazine under the category of Best Local Band (Original Music

In 2015, Topouzian was awarded second place for Vote 4 The Best sponsored by WDIV Television

In 2015, Topouzian was awarded Artist in Residence by the City of Farmington Hills, Michiga

In 2022, Topouzian was awarded a Michigan Heritage Award from the Michigan Traditional Arts Program through Michigan State University. http://traditionalarts.msu.edu/2022-michigan-heritage-awardees-announced/

References

External links

Official Website for Ara Topouzian

American Recording Productions, record label carrying titles of Ara Topouzian

HYE Times (Blog by Ara Topouzian)

Troy Chamber of Commerce
{{DEFAULTSORT:Topouzian, Ara 1969 births Living people Armenian musicians Soviet emigrants to the United States