Vahram Sarkissian

Vahram Sarkissian (Sargsyan) is an Armenian Canadian composer, conductor, and singer currently residing in Montreal, Canada. His writing style represents a musical palette ranging from influences of 5th-century Armenian medieval chant to previously unreported endogenous vocal extended techniques. Sarkissian's music has been performed in dozens of countries including the UK, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Japan, Canada and the USA. 

As an experimental vocalist, Sarkissian has developed a distinct vocal identity with an extensive vocal range and several signature sound production methods. He was a founding member of Phth, a Montreal-based experimental vocal ensemble focusing on new and challenging repertoire, improvisation, and multidisciplinary performances.

His arrangement of an Armenian ancient chant Great Mystery has been included in the Oxford University Press anthology World Carols for Choirs and has been recorded by the BBC Singers. Sarkissian's instrumental work Hunting the Hunter was premiered under his own baton at Carnegie Hall in 2012. His composition Joyful Light for women’s choir has been performed more than a hundred times around the world.

Vahram Sarkissian is also active as a lecturer. His workshops and presentations on extended vocal techniques are frequently featured at most prestigious choral festivals and symposia around the world. Some of his recent lecturing events were at the World Symposium on Choral Music (Barcelona, Spain), ACDA Regional Conference (Pittsburgh, USA), International Festival of Choral Music Europa Cantat (Tallinn, Estonia), World Voice day at Royal College of Music (Stockholm, Sweden), Podium Choral Conference and Festival (Toronto, Canada), among others.

Vahram Sarkissian holds undergraduate, graduate, and post graduate degrees in composition and choral conducting. He is a member of the Composers’ Union of Armenia and Canadian League of Composers. He has served as a music consultant for European Choral Association (2010-2012).