Art Form: Armenian kanun playing

Location(s): Bloomfield Hills (Oakland County)

Ara Topouzian

Portrait of Ara Topouzian and his kanun

Ara Topouzian was born in Detroit and grew up in the Armenian community in Southeast Michigan. His interest in traditional Armenian music was sparked at an early age by listening to vinyl recordings with his parents as well as attending local events. In college, he learned to play Middle Eastern percussion instruments and eventually the kanun, for which he is now known. The kanun is a Middle Eastern 78-stringed instrument played across one’s lap. Ara first learned by ear rather than formal training and began lessons at age 20. He takes the history of this music seriously, and weaves Armenian cultural history into his performances. In remembrance of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide in 2015, Ara produced a documentary film entitled Guardians of Music: A History of Armenian Music in Detroit. Ara’s nominator Della Cassia Topouzian writes, “This film was an homage to some of the famous Armenian musicians whose artistry helped preserve the Armenian musical culture in the community. It was this inspiration that helped Ara continue the quest to preserve a form of Armenian music that is in jeopardy of being lost forever.”

A skilled performer, Ara has received wide acclaim for his kanun playing. He was a 2012 Kresge Arts Fellow and has performed for events hosted by the state of Michigan, The Detroit Institute of Arts, Virginia Commonwealth University, Old Town School of Folk Music, and TEDx Detroit. In 2020, he performed virtually at the Kennedy Center as part of their “Arts Across America” series. As one of the few Armenian kanun players in Michigan, Ara both shares Armenian culture with others in his ethnic community and educates non-Armenians about the music and its origins. His passion for the arts extends outside of his local community as well; Ara joined the Michigan Arts and Cultural Council as a council member in 2018, where he served on the Executive Committee. He also serves on the board of the Cultural Advocacy Network of Michigan.

View the presentation of his award on Detroit Public Television here.

- Micah Ling, 2022