Vahram Sarkissian

Vahram Sarkissian has been honored with the Jules Léger Prize for New Chamber Music 2023 for his work “Quiet Songs”. This prestigious Canadian award, established by former Governor General Jules Léger in 1978, recognizes outstanding contributions in the field of new chamber music. Sarkissian's achievement in this competitive and innovative domain underscores his significant impact on contemporary music.

For the official announcement, visit the Canada Council for the Arts website: https://cmccanada.org/vahram-sarkissian-wins-jules-leger-prize-for-new-chamber-music/

The new set of arrangements of Armenian Sharakans will be premiered by Trio de l'île on March 17, 2024, in Montreal. The piece has been commissioned by Sourp Hagop Armenian Church of Montreal, Canada

The Bach Society of Dayton, led by Dr. David Crean, will present the premiere of the choral piece 'Soorp Soorp' by Sarkissian on March 3, 2024, in Dayton, OH. The new composition, commissioned by the Bach Society, will be part of their 'Along the Silk Road' program.

On December 26 at 7:00 PM, the Armenian State College of Dance will feature a contemporary dance performance choreographed by Arik Asaturyan. The modern dance performance will be based on Vahram Sarkissian's "Quiet Songs" for Chamber Ensemble.

As part of an effort to revive and celebrate authentic traditional Armenian music, two new arrangements of Armenian folk songs, "Garoon Batsver" and "Akna Oror", have been released on YouTube and various streaming platforms. "Garoon Batsver" is uniquely performed by the composer himself, while the lullaby "Akna Oror" features the magnificent voice of Zhanna Davtyan. This project, supported by the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec and in collaboration with Armenian folk artists, represents a deep exploration into the peculiarities of Armenian music identity.