Ara Dinkjian (Armenian: Արա Տինքճեան; born June 18, 1958)[1][2] is an Armenian-American musician. He is the founder of the band Night Ark. Dinkjian is considered one of the top oud players in the world, his compositions have been recorded in thirteen different languages, which include the multi-platinum hit "Dinata" which was performed in the closing ceremonies of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.[3]
Born in New Jersey to Armenian parents, Dinkjian made his professional debut at age five playing on the doumbag at the 1964 New York World's Fair, where he accompanied John Berberian and George Mgrdichian. His earliest professional musical experience was accompanying his father Onnik Dinkjian, a renowned singer of Armenian folk music and liturgical chants.[5] He received a scholarship to The Hartt School, a performing arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. Dinkjian learned several western and eastern instruments (piano, guitar, darbuka) 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.
Career
Throughout his musical life, Ara has continued to develop a 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 world-wide concert tours were highly influential for musicians and music lovers throughout the world because they demonstrated how music can be progressive and creative while still retaining the dignity and soul of one’s culture. Members of his band Night Ark included Arto Tunçboyacıyan on the percussion as well as pianist/composer Armen Donelian and Marc Johnson. He is accompanied by Zohar Fresco on percussion and Adi Rennert on keyboards.
In 2002, Dinkjian was chosen to represent Armenia in the First International Meeting Of The Oud, where twelve of the world’s top oud players gathered in Thessaloniki, Greece for three days of solo concerts, master classes, and exchange of information.[3]
He has appeared throughout the world on concert stages, oud festivals, seminars, and master classes, performing in 24 different countries. His CDs An Armenian In America, Voice Of Armenians, and Peace On Earth were recorded live at the 2005, 2006, and 2007 Jerusalem International Oud Festivals.[6] At the 2008 Oud Festival in Israel, he recorded an album with Sokratis Sinopoulos – lyra (Greece), Tamer Pinarbasi – kanun (Turkey), Rimon Haddad – bass (Palestina) and Zohar Fresco – percussion (Israel), and named it Peace on Earth.[citation needed]
Ara has also released a solo oud recording titled Conversations With Manol (2013), as well as Finding Songs (2013), which features 12 new compositions performed by the Ara Dinkjian Quartet. Other releases include Diyarbekiri Hokin (The Soul of Dikranagerd) which is a collaboration with his father Onnik, as well as 1915–2015 Truth & Hope, commemorating the 100 year anniversary of the Armenian genocide.
Ara has collaborated with kanunist Tamer Pınarbaşı and clarinetist Ismail Lumanovski in unique chamber-music style arrangements of ethnic folk, pop, classical, jazz, and original compositions. Collectively known as The Secret Trio, they released their first CD titled Soundscapes in 2012, and their second CD titled Three Of Us in 2015. Dinkjian’s latest released is Live at Princeton University, which features both The Secret Trio and The New York Gypsy All Stars.
Festivals
Dinkjian has performed in several festivals, mostly in Israel, where his music is very popular:[7]
^ ab"Three Ouds: Turk, Arab, Greek and Armenian". Alwan For The Arts. 2007-11-21. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
^. Armenian Reporter. 2001-05-12. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2008-08-11.
^"Music From The Fringes Festival: An Armenian In New York". Alwan For The Arts. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
^"♫ An Armenian In America - Ara Dinkjian". cdbaby.com. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
^ abFiske, Gavriel (2007-11-01). "Ethnic music festival: Songs of the oud". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2016-04-18.
^Fiske, Gavriel (2006-10-26). "A lute for all seasons". Music. The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
^Levin, Jenny A (2007-12-24). "Call of the Oud (Extract)". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2016-04-17.
^. Montreux Sounds. Archived from the original on 2006-05-24.
May 05, 2023
dinkjian, armenian, Արա, Տինքճեան, born, june, 1958, armenian, american, musician, founder, band, night, dinkjian, considered, players, world, compositions, have, been, recorded, thirteen, different, languages, which, include, multi, platinum, dinata, which, p. Ara Dinkjian Armenian Արա Տինքճեան born June 18 1958 1 2 is an Armenian American musician He is the founder of the band Night Ark Dinkjian is considered one of the top oud players in the world his compositions have been recorded in thirteen different languages which include the multi platinum hit Dinata which was performed in the closing ceremonies of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens 3 Ara DinkjianBorn18 June 1958 1958 06 18 age 64 OriginNew Jersey United StatesGenresFolk Armenian folkOccupation s Musician songwriter performerInstrument s Oud guitar cumbus mandolin kanun saz kavalYears active1986 presentLabelsRCA BMG PolyGram Universal Traditional Crossroads Dinkjian has written songs for Eleftheria Arvanitaki 4 and Sezen Aksu Vazgectim Sarisin Yine Mi Cicek Hos Geldin among others Turkish singers Gulsen Kibariye Mine Kosan Ahmet Kaya Coskun Sabah Burcu Gunes have recorded his songs Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Festivals 4 Discography 4 1 Night Ark 4 2 Ara Dinkjian solo and with friends 5 ReferencesEarly life EditBorn in New Jersey to Armenian parents Dinkjian made his professional debut at age five playing on the doumbag at the 1964 New York World s Fair where he accompanied John Berberian and George Mgrdichian His earliest professional musical experience was accompanying his father Onnik Dinkjian a renowned singer of Armenian folk music and liturgical chants 5 He received a scholarship to The Hartt School a performing arts college in Hartford Connecticut Dinkjian learned several western and eastern instruments piano guitar darbuka 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 Career EditThroughout his musical life Ara has continued to develop a 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 world wide concert tours were highly influential for musicians and music lovers throughout the world because they demonstrated how music can be progressive and creative while still retaining the dignity and soul of one s culture Members of his band Night Ark included Arto Tuncboyaciyan on the percussion as well as pianist composer Armen Donelian and Marc Johnson He is accompanied by Zohar Fresco on percussion and Adi Rennert on keyboards In 2002 Dinkjian was chosen to represent Armenia in the First International Meeting Of The Oud where twelve of the world s top oud players gathered in Thessaloniki Greece for three days of solo concerts master classes and exchange of information 3 He has appeared throughout the world on concert stages oud festivals seminars and master classes performing in 24 different countries His CDs An Armenian In America Voice Of Armenians and Peace On Earth were recorded live at the 2005 2006 and 2007 Jerusalem International Oud Festivals 6 At the 2008 Oud Festival in Israel he recorded an album with Sokratis Sinopoulos lyra Greece Tamer Pinarbasi kanun Turkey Rimon Haddad bass Palestina and Zohar Fresco percussion Israel and named it Peace on Earth citation needed Ara has also released a solo oud recording titled Conversations With Manol 2013 as well as Finding Songs 2013 which features 12 new compositions performed by the Ara Dinkjian Quartet Other releases include Diyarbekiri Hokin The Soul of Dikranagerd which is a collaboration with his father Onnik as well as 1915 2015 Truth amp Hope commemorating the 100 year anniversary of the Armenian genocide Ara has collaborated with kanunist Tamer Pinarbasi and clarinetist Ismail Lumanovski in unique chamber music style arrangements of ethnic folk pop classical jazz and original compositions Collectively known as The Secret Trio they released their first CD titled Soundscapes in 2012 and their second CD titled Three Of Us in 2015 Dinkjian s latest released is Live at Princeton University which features both The Secret Trio and The New York Gypsy All Stars Festivals EditDinkjian has performed in several festivals mostly in Israel where his music is very popular 7 Ethnic music festival Songs of the oud 7 Jerusalem International Oud Festival 8 9 ArmenStock 2004 Dias del laud Festival 1980 Montreux Jazz Festival 10 Discography EditNight Ark Edit 1986 Picture RCA Novus 1988 Moments RCA Novus 1998 In Wonderland PolyGram 2000 Petals on your Path EmArcy 2000 Treasures Traditional CrossroadsAra Dinkjian solo and with friends Edit 1995 Gypsy Fire Traditional Crossroads 1996 Tears of Dignity Libra Music 1996 Onno 1948 1996 D Stove Music 2006 An Armenian In America Krikor Music 2008 Peace on Earth Krikor Music 2012 Sounscapes Traditional Crossroads 2013 Finding Songs Krikor Music 2013 Conversations with Manol Kalan Music 2015 Three of Us with Secret Trio Kalan Music 2015 1915 2015 Hakikat Umut Truth Hope Kalan MusicReferences Edit Life in the Armenian Diaspora Ara Dinkjian 2007 06 01 Archived from the original on 2013 01 19 Retrieved 2008 08 11 Ara Dinkjian Bio www aradinkjian com Retrieved 2016 04 18 a b Three Ouds Turk Arab Greek and Armenian Alwan For The Arts 2007 11 21 Retrieved 2008 08 11 Ara Dinkjian Is One of Featured Musicians in Eleftheria Arvanitaki s New CD to Be Launched with Series of Concerts Starting Next Sunday Armenian Reporter 2001 05 12 Archived from the original on 2012 10 20 Retrieved 2008 08 11 Music From The Fringes Festival An Armenian In New York Alwan For The Arts Retrieved 2016 04 18 An Armenian In America Ara Dinkjian cdbaby com Retrieved 2016 04 18 a b Fiske Gavriel 2007 11 01 Ethnic music festival Songs of the oud The Jerusalem Post JPost com Retrieved 2016 04 18 Fiske Gavriel 2006 10 26 A lute for all seasons Music The Jerusalem Post Retrieved 2016 04 17 Levin Jenny A 2007 12 24 Call of the Oud Extract Jerusalem Post Retrieved 2016 04 17 Nyiama Ensemble Montreux Sounds Archived from the original on 2006 05 24 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ara Dinkjian amp oldid 1139105779, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
