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Chookasian Ensemble
Friday, March 30, 2007
leading traditional Armenian music ensemble
Door 7:30 P.M., Music 8:00 P.M. | Purchase advance tickets: $20.50

One of the few U.S. based groups performing works from the ancient, rich secular vein of classical Armenian music, the Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble plays a unique mix of traditional vocal and dance music from the 16th through the 19th centuries, from both Eastern and Western Armenia.

Directed by Fresno resident John Chookasezian, this octet of master musicians performs on traditional instruments, weaving together stories of the songs and their composers with beautiful renditions of each musical piece. The ensemble features John on clarinet and his wife Barbara as principal vocalist, along with Vergine Alimian on kanun (lap harp), Henrick Avoyan on traditional drums, Albert Vardanyan on duduk (wooden flute), Valod Grigorian on kemenche (folk violin), Andranik Mouradian on Keyboards, and Garden Sarkisian on shivi (shepherd's flute).

The group has several albums to their name, including the recent live CD, Passage To Armenia, which won the Independent Music Award for Best Traditional World Music Album in 2006. With a string of other honors like the National Gold Medal Award presented to John by Armenia's cultural minister, the ensemble aspires to preserve and perpetuate the music of the Armenian people. "It is our vision," says John, "That in the future our children's grandchildren will also know this beautiful music."

Visit the Chookasian Ensemble's website



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