Category Archives: art
Michigan State University: Creativity in the Time of Covid-19
In this blog I have often discussed how the pandemic affected Michigan artists. The ability to adjust to an environment that disabled the ability to perform in front of a live audience, to be able to see instant gratification for … Continue reading
March is Arts Advocacy Month
“The arts create connection, community, belonging, and joy. In the worst of times, the arts create all of that and more—and most of all, the arts create hope” from the American for the Arts website. As a council member of … Continue reading
Making Music Fun
I guess what they say is true, you can make music out of just about anything. A video that my musician friend Mark Gavoor (and fellow blogger) posted a humorous video on social media (which we have all seen before, … Continue reading
Revisiting Kegham Tazian
“Personally, I feel that the most exciting aspect of my work – the great pleasure, in fact, that I receive – is the excitement and anticipation of beginning and doing. The end is defeat, the beginning is victory”. These are … Continue reading
Kresge Arts in Detroit announces 2021 Fellows
I have often said that receiving the Kresge Artist Fellowship over nine years ago was a musical game changer for me. The doors it opened for me as a musician allowed me to create and afforded me unique opportunities to … Continue reading
The Great Duduk Master Has Passed
The entire world music community has lost a true living legend, Armenian duduk master Djivan Gasparyan has died at the age of 92. The duduk is exclusively and internationally known as the instrument of Armenia. Made out of apricot wood with … Continue reading
The Return
It seems that, at least in the United States, we are slowly seeing that “light at the end of the tunnel” that we keep hearing about as we hopefully put the pandemic behind us and return to some form of … Continue reading
Artsakh-Armenia Relief Concert on Dec. 12th
Over the past several months we have experienced many groups throughout the diaspora helping both raise awareness and funds due to the war in Artsakh. These groups have been innovative in putting together products or offering their talents to help … Continue reading
Cultural Identity, Repeated History
105 years ago, our ancestors were driven from their homelands by the order of the Turkish government. A well documented massacre that can be easily researched for those unfamiliar with this important and dark piece of Armenian history. In order … Continue reading
Harry Bedrossian: Euphoric Oud Ride
If you have ever met musician Harry Bedrossian I think one of the first things you would say about him is that he loves life, doesn’t take himself too seriously (as none of us should) and is an excellent musician. One … Continue reading