What is it about Arshak Sirunyan that has artists from all over the country clamoring to work with him? No doubt the man is extraordinarily versatile ---- he’s as much at home offering Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite to accompany youthful ballet dancers as he is delivering a New Orleans tinged rendition of Thelonius Monk’s “Blue Monk” for the most discriminating jazz audiences. Yet, despite his quite evident mastery of many genres of the musical art-form, he shows no signs of the personality defects that often accompany such brilliance; his demeanor humble and ever-friendly.
When asked about Arshak Sirunyan, Gabrielle Goodman (award winning songwriter, vocalist and Berklee College of Music educator) remarked without hesitation, ‘There are piano players and then there’s Arshak; he’s on a whole ‘nother level”.
Arshak Sirunyan was born on September 20, 1981, in the city of Yerevan, Armenia. By the age of seven, his natural musical talent had already come to the attention of Sergey Kechek, Director of the A. Spendiarov School of Music; one of the leading musical academies in Armenia. Studying under unparalleled teacher and a music mentor Arkuhi Harutyunyan, Arshak continued his study of classical piano styles for the next 10 years, performing solo concerts and going so far as to receive the third place award at the 1994 Armenian National J. S. Bach Concerto Competition. Later, he attended and graduated from Komitas State Conservatory, where he concentrated on Composition and Piano Performance under the tutelage of Stephan Rostomian and Giorgy Kasabian. In 2002, the Armenian Komitas String Quartet performed a work composed by Arshak Sirunyan that was dedicated to the victims of the earthquake that struck Armenia fourteen years earlier.
Although his roots were firmly planted in the world of classical music, his heart and mind became captivated by the music of jazz masters such as Miles Davis, Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Pat Metheny, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, etc... Thus, in 2002, Arshak decided to emigrate to the United States to pursue his new-found passion "Jazz".
Settling in Washington, D.C., Arshak utilized his classical training to secure a position as an accompanist at the Maryland Academy of Ballet, where he works to this day. However, once the sun goes down, he can be found at an ever-increasing number of venues following the dictates of his heart --- serving up some of the most profound piano performances.
In 2008 Arshak found and produced a band by name "Double Sharp" with his two childhood friends Levon Mikayelyan and Nune Vartanyan. Which also includes two veterans of american jazz scene Tony Bunn and Wes Crawford. This gave a birth to the album "With a Song in My Heart". The same year he began working on his trio album "Journal" and Tony's project "Small World" which also involves extraordinary drummer Dennis Chambers. Both projects to be released in 2009.
T.B.
Tony Bunn's new album, "Small World" (featuring Dennis Chambers, Arshak Sirunyan, Mike Fitzhugh, Kevin Walker and Victor Williams), is now available (worldwide) on iTunes, Amazon.com and at other fine MP3 Download locations.
Get your copy; and hear what all the excitement's about!
hi, Arshak! greetings from Brazil. your music is very special! thanks for your friendship. it's great to have you as a friend! power and light. Z.A. Feitosa (www. feitosa. net)
Hi Arshak, Brilliant music on your site! thanks for finding and request, you're welcome. Best wishes, love and peace, from the Eifel mountains in Germany, Paul
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