BIOGRAPHY: Ara Topouzian
Showing an interest in music in his early youth, Ara played music throughout the public school music program and in college, he began studying Armenian and Middle Eastern classical and folk music. Performing with a local Armenian band, Ara eventually branched out and began performing as a solo and ensemble musician throughout the Midwest and East Coast.

In 1991, he formed American Recording Productions (ARP) with the intent to record and preserve this type of world music. To date, his award winning record label has produced over thirty recordings of Armenian and Middle Eastern music. ARP products are distributed internationally in major retail outlets and can be heard on several world music and NPR radio stations. He has performed at several Armenian weddings and social events, world music concerts, nightclubs, and folk festivals throughout the country. Ara’s music has been featured in several PBS documentaries that have been aired nationwide. Along with his Detroit-based world music ensemble, Eastern Winds, Ara has performed with several popular Armenian, Greek, and Middle Eastern performers and ensembles (including Eastern Winds) throughout the country.

Some notable musicians he has performed include: George Mgrdichian, Onnik Dinkjian, Mal Barsamian, John Berberian, Joe Zeytoonian, James Stoynoff, and the Chicago Immigrant Orchestra. He also has performed with jazz, fusion, rock, and blues artists/ensembles such as the following notable artists: Wendel Harrison, Sean Blackman, Colton Weatherston, and Immigrant Suns.

Ara performs an array of Armenian and Middle Eastern instruments including: Kanun (laptop harp), Duduk (Armenian oboe), Metal G-clarinet, Dumbek (Middle Eastern hand drum), Def (Middle Eastern tambourine), and a variety of Middle Eastern frame drums.

As a record producer, Ara was the winner of the AFMA Armenian Music Awards for producing The Music of Komitas Vartabed as best traditional album of 2000. He was also the winner of the AFMA Armenian Music Awards for producing Echo of the Mountains as best traditional instrumental album of 2001.

Ara has taught workshops for both children and adults demonstrating various Armenian and Middle Eastern instruments and folk music.

Ara has performed (private and public) concerts throughout Michigan and around the country including events for: Chef Emeril Lagasse, and authors Mitch Albom and Peter Balakian. Some of the notable venues Ara has performed included: Cranbrook Art Museum, Dalley in the Alley, Dearborn Recreational Cultural Arts Division, Detroit Art Space, Detroit Institute of Arts, East Dearborn Arab International Festival, Farmington Founder’s Festival, General Motors, Hagopian World of Rugs, International Institute/Detroit Festival of the Arts, International Institute of Detroit, La Shish Restaurants, Majestic Theater, Motor City Casino, Multicultural Multiracial Heritage Festival, Night Notes, The Field Museum, University of Michigan, World Music Festival Chicago, Wyndgate Country Club, Xhedos Café, Zeitgeist Gallery, and several retail outlets.

Television Appearances include Detroit Public Television, Public Broadcasting System, Bloomfield Public Schools Television, Southwestern Oakland County Cable Commission.

CONTACT