Ara Dinkjian

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Ara Dinkjian (oud)
Giannis Kirimkiridis (piano)
Sokratis Sinopoulos (lyra of Istanbul)
Vangelis Karipis (percussion)

country:
Armenia
style(s):
Instrumental Traditional
label:
unsigned/Krikor Music
type:
Solist, Composer/Songwriter
gender:
male
instrumentation:
instrumental
artist submitted by:
ARTos & Theama

Friday 28/10/11 22:15 | Koncerthuset: Studio 1

ARA DINKJIAN is an Armenian born in America in 1958. His earliest professional musical experience was accompanying his father Onnik Dinkjian, a renowned Armenian folk and liturgical singer. Ara learned several western and eastern instruments (piano, guitar, darbuka, and clarinet) and in 1980 graduated from the Hartt College of Music, earning the country's first and only special degree in the instrument for which he has become most well-known, the oud. For the past 35 years, he has continued his post as organist in the Armenian Apostolic Church.
Throughout his musical life, Ara has continued to develop his highly personal compositional style which blends his eastern and western roots. In 1985, to help realize these compositions and musical concepts, Ara formed his instrumental quartet, Night Ark, which recorded four CDs for RCA/BMG and Universal/PolyGram. Night Ark's recordings and concert tours were highly influential for musicians and music lovers throughout the world because they demonstrated how music can move forward while still retaining the dignity and soul of one's culture.
Ara Dinkjian's compositions have had a universal appeal. His songs have been recorded by world famous instrumentalists and singers in thirteen different languages, demonstrating that music does indeed unite people and cultures. He has written songs for Eleftheria Arvanitaki ("Dinata Dinata", "Meno Ektos", "Ta Kormia Ke Ta Makheria"- The Bodies and the Knives, etc) and Sezen Aksu. One of his most known compositions, "Homecoming" ("Dinata Dinata") was performed at the closing ceremonies of the 2004 Athens Olympics Games. Many of his compositions have appeared in movie and television soundtracks.
Ara Dinkjian is also considered one of the best oud players in the world. Again, his style is a very personal one, with an emphasis on a uniquely beautiful tone. He has appeared throughout the world on concert stages, oud festivals, seminars, and master classes. His latest CDs: An Armenian In America (2006), Voice Of Armenians (2007) and Peace On Earth (2008) were recorded live at the Jerusalem International Oud Festival.
In 2009, Ara Dinkjian expressed the desire to return to his beloved live performances, coming closer to his audience again, giving several concerts in Israel (Nazareth and Jerusalem), in USA (New York) and in Turkey (Agia Irini, Istanbul) throughout the year. In 2010 he toured Europe beginning from Greece and continued in Romania and Spain but also played in the USA.
He is currently programming a more expanded tour for this year coming.
In November of 2010, over a decade after Night Ark had disbanded, the basic original members of the group reunited, giving a unique performance in the Oud Festival of Jerusalem.
Ara Dinkjian continues to compose, perform, record, and teach, while creating his own unique musical landscape.

AVAILABLE ALL YEAR
Formation: Trio, Quartet, Quintet