Ara Topouzian Explained

Ara Topouzian (born in 1969) is an Armenian musician who began playing Armenian and Middle Eastern music in 1991. He plays the kanon.[1]

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.[2]

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.[3] [4] 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.".[5] [6]

In 2013, Topouzian received a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to produce a documentary on the history of Armenian music and the musicians from Detroit, Michigan.[7] [8]

On March 16, 2015, Topouzian released a film documentary on Detroit Public Television[9] entitled Guardians of Music: A History of Armenian Music in Detroit.[10] [11] [12]

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.[13] [14] 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.[15]

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.[16]

Discography

Film documentaries

(Music from Ara Topouzian is used)

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.[18] [19]

In 2014, Topouzian joined the Board of Directors of Creative Many (formerly Artserve)[20] [21] [22]

In 2013, Topouzian left the City of Novi as their economic development director[23] and was appointed CEO of the Troy Chamber of Commerce.[24] [25]

In 2017, Topouzian was appointed by State of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to Michigan Council of Arts and Cultural Affairs.[26] [27] [28] [29]

Awards

In 2013, Topouzian received the Mike Conboy Professional Development Award for outstanding contribution to Michigan Economic Developers Association.[30]

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.[31]

In 2016 and 2017, Topouzian received the Best of Detroit from HOUR magazine under the category of Best Local Band (Original Music) https://web.archive.org/web/20160607043329/http://www.hourdetroit.com/Hour-Detroit/June-2016/Best-of-Detroit-2016/index.php?cparticle=4&siarticle=3#artanc [32]

In 2015, Topouzian was awarded second place for Vote 4 The Best sponsored by WDIV Television. http://4thebest.clickondetroit.com/place/11815-ara-topouzian

In 2015, Topouzian was awarded Artist in Residence by the City of Farmington Hills, Michigan http://www.fhgov.com/Activities/Programs/Cultural-Arts/Artist-in-Residence-Award-and-Distinguished-Servic.aspx

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/

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A Double Life: Ara Topouzian . Rupersburg . Nicole . 9 January 2013 . Prosper . Oakland County Department of Economic Development & Community Affairs.
  2. Web site: Live From Detroit - Ara Topouzian . Layne . Joslyn . AllMusic.
  3. Web site: Ara Topouzian . Kresge Arts in Detroit . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141005142934/http://www.kresgeartsindetroit.org/fellowships/past-fellows/2012-fellows/ara-topouzian/ . 2014-10-05 .
  4. Web site: The Brothers Topouzian: Keri and Ara . Apigian-Kessel . Betty . 9 May 2013 . Armenian Weekly.
  5. Web site: Jon Metzger Completes New Recording . Elon University. 27 January 2012 .
  6. Web site: Kanun Player Ara Topouzian . https://web.archive.org/web/20120310200026/http://wdet.org/shows/craig-fahle-show/episode/kanun-player-ara-topouzian/ . dead . 10 March 2012 . 17 January 2012 . WDET .
  7. Web site: Documentary to Archive History of Armenian Music in Detroit . Harb . Ali . 9 January 2014 . The Arab American News . 24 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141012182541/http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/news/id_8066/Documentary-to-archive-history-of-Armenian-music-in-Detroit.html . 12 October 2014 . dead .
  8. Web site: American-Armenian Musician to Shoot Movie on Armenian Musical Heritage of Detroit . 11 February 2014 . Armenpress.
  9. Web site: Armenian Heritage Night.
  10. Web site: Topouzian's film to air on DPTV . 2015-03-08 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150313155433/http://www.hometownlife.com/story/news/local/farmington-hills/2015/03/08/ara-topouzian-documentary-detroit-public-tv-farmington-hills-residents-musician-armenian/24482675/ . 2015-03-13 .
  11. Web site: Troy Chamber president films documentary on Armenian music.
  12. Web site: Farmington Hills resident's homage to Armenian music airs March 16 | Farmington Voice . 2015-03-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402160122/http://www.farmingtonvoice.com/farmington-hills-residents-homage-to-armenian-music-airs-march-16-001008 . 2015-04-02 . dead .
  13. Web site: Archived copy . 2015-03-28 . 2015-04-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402095056/http://www.fhgov.com/egov/documents/1427488141_4202.pdf . dead .
  14. Web site: Armenian musician, arts non-profit win Farmington Area Arts Commission honors | Farmington Voice . 2015-03-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402101658/http://www.farmingtonvoice.com/armenian-musician-arts-non-profit-win-farmington-area-arts-commission-honors-165338 . 2015-04-02 . dead .
  15. Web site: Armenian musician to share cultural heritage with performance.
  16. Web site: Local Artist Profiles - Heart Strings . Premack . Rachel . 21 August 2013 . Hour Detroit . 24 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131026071448/http://www.hourdetroit.com/Hour-Detroit/September-2013/Local-Artist-Profiles/index.php?cparticle=9&siarticle=8#artanc . 26 October 2013 . dead .
  17. Web site: Topouzian's film to air on DPTV . 2015-03-08 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150313155433/http://www.hometownlife.com/story/news/local/farmington-hills/2015/03/08/ara-topouzian-documentary-detroit-public-tv-farmington-hills-residents-musician-armenian/24482675/ . 2015-03-13 .
  18. News: Topouzian Re-Elected for Second Term on the MEDA . 10 January 2014 . Dbusiness Magazine . Hour Media.
  19. Web site: City of Novi's Economic Development Director appointed MEDA Vice President . 30 January 2013 . Invest Novi .
  20. Web site: Change Ups: GRCC Salutes Four Women . 4 April 2014 . Grand Rapids Business Journal .
  21. News: ArtServe Elects Troy Chamber's President to Board . 9 April 2014 . Dbusiness Magazine . Hour Media.
  22. Web site: Chamber CEO Fuses Arts with Business to Spur Growth . Oparka . Terry . 2 April 2014. C&G Newspapers.
  23. Web site: Novi ED Director Ara Topouzian Resigns to Take New Job in Troy . 15 May 2013 . The Novi Information Network . 24 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001505/http://www.novi.org/news2/2013-05-15.htm . 4 March 2016 . dead .
  24. Web site: Troy Chamber names Ara Topouzian as new CEO . Bull . Kristin . 15 May 2013 . Crain's Detroit Business.
  25. Web site: Novi economic development director heads Troy chamber.
  26. Web site: Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs | Industries.
  27. Web site: Troy Chamber president/CEO appointed to Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. 11 January 2018.
  28. Web site: Farmington Hills musician appointed to state arts council. 2 January 2018.
  29. Web site: Troy Chamber of Commerce president named to arts council.
  30. News: Developers Association Honors Troy Chamber President - DBusiness Magazine. Dbusiness Magazine. 11 September 2013.
  31. Web site: Diversity Essential for Corp! Award Winners . 10 September 2015 .
  32. Web site: Best of Detroit 2017 - Hour Detroit . 2018-01-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180126012545/http://www.hourdetroit.com/Hour-Detroit/June-2017/Best-of-Detroit-2017/index.php?cparticle=4&siarticle=3#artanc . 2018-01-26 . dead .

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