Ara Topouzian Named President of the Troy Chamber of Commerce

'Knowledge, experience, and connections with economic and business development in Michigan' helped lead the Farmington Hills resident to the position.

The following information was provided in a press release. The Troy Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has named Farmington Hills resident Ara Topouzian president/CEO effective June 3, 2013. John Tagle, chairman of the Troy Chamber Executive Search Committee and president of John Tagle Associates, Inc., said the appointment comes after many months of in-depth search for the right person to run the nearly 700-member organization. "The Search Committee had the difficult task of selecting the best candidate for this position from many qualified applicants," Tagle said. "We are thankful to everyone who applied for the position, and we're confident that Ara's knowledge, experience and connections with economic and business development in …

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Farmington Hills Musician Performs During Art X Detroit Week

Ara Topouzian hosts a panel discussion and presents information about Armenian and Middle Eastern music on April 12.

Farmington Hills resident Ara Topouzian, who is City of Novi Economic Development Director by day and Kresge Artist Fellow by night, will introduce audiences to Armenian and Middle Eastern music and more during Art X Detroit Week April 10-14.  “Detroit Hye Times”, held at The Wright Museum Contemporary Arts Gallery in Detroit on April 12, 6:15 p.m., features a panel discussion and workshop with Topouzian and two other prominent Armenian musicians: Oud virtuoso Mal Barsamian from Boston, MA, and Northeastern University Professor/clarinetist, Leon Janikian. They will lead a discussion on the origin of Armenian and Middle Eastern instruments and discuss the history of traditional Armenian music, with the trio performing samples of the music. …

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Farmington Hills Resident Featured in Kresge Foundation Film

Ara Topouzian in 2012 received a prestigious Kresge fellowship and $25,000 to help him advance his musical career.

Farmington Hills resident Ara Topouzian shares his passion for Armenian music in a new YouTube video produced by the Kresge Foundation. In 2012, Topouzian received a prestigious fellowship and $25,000 to help him advance his musical career. A songwriter and performer, he plays the kanun, a Middle Eastern harp, and aims to preserve and promote Armenian music, which reflects his heritage.  "As an Armenian, I want to be able to educate to the outside the history of the Armenian culture," he said in the video. "In part, I can do that with music."  Watch the video profile on YouTube.com.

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Farmington Hills Resident Ara Topouzian Profiled in County Publication

Topouzian, who works as Economic Development Director for the City of Novi, also maintains a career as a musician.

Farmington Hills Musician Ara Topouzian Wins Prestigious Kresge Fellowship

The Middle Eastern music performer and Patch blogger is among 24 Detroit-area literary and performing artists honored with a $25,000 cash award.

Ara Topouzian has a passion for preserving the Armenian folk music he loved as a child and now performs.  This week, the Farmington Hills resident received a prestigious fellowship and $25,000 to help him advance his musical career. Topouzian is among 24 literary and performing artists who received the 2012 Kresge Artist Fellowships, which provide support metro Detroit artists "whose commitment to innovation and artistic achievement are evident in the quality of their work," according to the Kresge website. "The (cash) award is certainly very nice, but what I'm excited about is hopefully this will allow me to do more musically. I think it will open a lot of different doors," Topouzian said.  A songwriter and performer, his chosen …

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Farmington Hills Resident to Perform with Virginia University Symphony

Ara Topouzian will debut an original composition for the kanun.

World music artist Ara Topouzian, a Farmington Hills resident, has been invited to perform with the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Symphony on Jan. 24 in Richmond, VA. Topouzian will perform the U.S. premier of an original composition by VCU music professor/composer Doug Richards entitled “Ben Seni Variations.” The 30-minute piece was specifically written for the kanun, a Middle Eastern harp, and weaves traditional Middle Eastern folk elements with Western European Art Music and jazz. Along with the 60-piece symphony, Topouzian will be joining seven additional jazz soloists and the Ensemble Appassionata, an 18-member string ensemble from Montreal, Canada. “I am humbled by the opportunity to perform such piece of work alongside some…

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