Topouzian Credits Parents with Top Music Prize
by Tom Vartabedian
July 8, 2012
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – What does it take to win a $25,000 Kresge
Artist Fellowship Award for musical excellence?
For Ara Topouzian, it’s the support he received from his parents,
Armenag and Norma, both of whom dedicated their efforts to the
advancement of the Armenian community, here and abroad.
Kanun virtuoso Ara Topouzian will use his $25,000 prize as a Kresge
Artist Fellow to promote world music to wider audiences.
`I was always encouraged by my parents to strive for more, and owe so
much to them,’ said the kanun virtuoso and noted recording artist.
`Musically, I have many mentors and role models. I got my start in
Armenian music as a child sitting with the Vosbikian Band at the old
Atlantic City kef weekends. I am truly honored by this award.’
Topouzian was among two dozen Metro Detroit literary and performing
artists to receive this award. Each of the 24 fellowships included an
unrestricted prize of $25,000 rewarding creative vision and a
commitment to excellence within a wide range of artistic disciplines.
Topouzian was selected for his accomplishments as a world music artist
specializing in the kanun, an instrument he has played for decades. He
was part of a 19-piece world music group that premiered to a sold-out
audience at the Detroit Orchestra Hall.
He enjoys sharing his heritage and talent teaching workshops for
children and adults, and demonstrating various Armenian and Middle
Eastern instruments, as well as folk music.
The money will be used to promote world music to a wider audience. A
question-and-answer session with the artist follows.
Q: Relate a couple of highlights from your career.
A: In 1995, I was commissioned by the Armenian Relief Society to
produce an album that benefited a pre-natal clinic located amidst
Armenia’s earthquake devastation. The album, `For the Children of
Armenia,’ raised over $20,000 for that clinic in memory of my late
mother. In 2002, I produced another album that was dedicated to the
thousands of children saved by the Nork Marash Medical Center in
Yerevan.
Q: Your impressions of the kanun?
A: It’s one of the most important traditional instruments used in
Armenian and Middle Eastern music. The instrument is the granddaddy of
the piano-75 strings tuned in 3-string unison.
Q: Your outside work, family, and personal life?
A: By day, I work as an economic development director for the City of
Novi, one of the biggest and growing cities in Oakland County, Mich.
I’m married to Della Cassia Topouzian and we have two children, Aline
Norma, 3, and Alexan Peter, 11 months.
Q: Something about you that may surprise others?
A: A lot of non-Armenians do not know about my musical background. I
once performed for over 1,800 patrons at Detroit Orchestra Hall. At a
reception that followed, people I interact with at my day job came up
to me in utter shock. They were there for the concert and had no idea
that would be me on stage. I’ve been playing Armenian music for 25
years.
Q: Impact of Armenian music on our society?
A: The younger generation isn’t as interested as my generation and
that troubles me. I feel that as musicians, we have an obligation to
teach and preserve our music so that it continues to live. Music is
part of our rich history and tells an important story. We should never
forget our story.
Q: Your favorite recording?
A: I have a record label – American Recording Productions – which I
founded in 1991. To date, I have recorded 30 albums. Among my
favorites is `Whispers of Ellis Island,’ which features Joe Zeytoonian
on oud. This was dedicated to the millions of Armenians who arrived in
America through Ellis Island. Another is `Eastern Winds,’ featuring a
number of local non-Armenian musicians performing Middle Eastern
music. Both have been very popular.
Q: What does this award mean to you?
A: Very humbling. The Kresge Artist Fellowship is a prestigious honor
that I don’t take lightly. It isn’t just about the money. The
fellowship will allow me to show an even wider audience my
capabilities as a musician, and gives me the motivation to learn more
music with different genres. I plan to utilize the money in ways that
will help advance my career as a musician while promoting world music
to wider audiences.
Q: How did you qualify to receive this? Were you nominated?
A: I applied for it as you would a grant. It was a very competitive
process with over 450 applicants. I was judged by a panel of
professionals within the music and performing arts industry. They
reviewed my music, watched concert videos, and ultimately made their
decision.
Q: What impact does this make in the world of Armenian American music?
A: A huge impression. It gives us the recognition within the
non-Armenian sector that we deserve. Hopefully, it will also show
other Armenian American musicians that our talents are not just
limited to picnics, dances, and weddings. The joke to some is that we
are all `picnic band musicians’ and I don’t agree with that. Many of
us are exceptionally talented musicians. I look at others like Ara
Dinkjian and Mal Barsamian. We’ve successfully branched out to play
with a variety of musicians and genres. More of us can be doing this.
Q: What projects do you have in the fire now?
A: I perform quite a bit in Michigan. With two small children, it’s
hard to execute projects. I recently completed original music for an
upcoming Armenian documentary with Mark Gavoor, another good musician
friend.
Q: Who is your role model?
A: I have several. Aside from my parents, there are others like Mark
Gavoor and Jack Chalikian, a kanun player associated with the Kef Time
Band. Jack took the time to give me mini-lessons at Kef Time Hartford.
I won’t forget that. I’ve had the good fortune to play with a variety
of musicians over the years and learned something special from each of
them.
Q: How do you feel about commemorating the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide?
A: We have an obligation to commemorate it to the outside world.
Whenever I talk about my music, I always mention the genocide. It has
an impact upon the musicians and what we play. I’ve always felt our
annual commemorations were being directed toward the wrong audience.
We should be educating non-Armenians. The number of misinformed people
I speak to about the genocide is staggering. We have an opportunity to
commemorate an event to a nation that may never have heard about the
Armenian Genocide.
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2012/07/08/topouzian-credits-parents-with-top-music-prize/