Armenians mourn loss of music master Sebouh Abcarian

OBITUARY
August 9, 2014

Armenians mourn loss of music master Sebouh AbcarianSebouh Abcarian
By Staff Reporter

THE funeral will be held in Nicosia later today for Sebouh Abcarian, a
prominent member of the island’s Armenian community and a leading
figure in the classical and folk music scene.

The service will be held at the St. Asdvadzadzin Armenian church at 3.30pm.

Abcarian, a long-time choirmaster at the Melkonian school in Nicosia,
died at his home in Nicosia on Monday.

“Maestro” Apcarian, as he was fondly known within the community and
the wider Armenian diaspora, was a composer, conductor, painter and
educator. He founded the Armenian radio programme at the Cyprus
Broadcasting Corporation, where he served for 46 years.

He graduated the Melkonian Educational Institute and continued his
fine art and music studies in Paris. As an opera singer he performed
in Europe and the Middle East eventually returning to his native
Cyprus where he taught art and music and conducted the Melkonian
school choir, following in the steps of his music teacher and mentor
Vahan Bedelian, another legend in the music world.

After teaching and conducting school and church choirs for many years,
Abcarian took up the challenge to direct the newly established Kohar
Symphony Orchestra and Choir in Armenia, returning to Cyprus for their
first international performance in June 2002. After that, the music
world beckoned and Abcarian travelled with Kohar to Turkey, Russia,
the US, Syria, Lebanon, Uruguay and Argentina.