Miqayel Voskanyan brought Armenian tar to the Boston stage
Miqayel Voskanyan, an Armenia-based tar virtuoso and composer, has recently completed a successful tour in Boston on August 2-11, 2024, highlighted by a sold-out concert titled “Yerevan Nights” at the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center (ACEC) in Watertown and participation in Silkroad’s prestigious Global Musician Workshop (GMW) at the New England Conservatory (NEC).
Voskanyan, selected from a competitive pool of 218 applicants representing 51 countries and 45 different instruments, was the first musician from Armenia to join the ranks of 70 world-class participants at GMW, which took place on August 4-11, 2024. His presence marked a powerful moment for Armenian culture, as he proudly represented Armenia with its national instrument tar, which has been his constant companion for over 30 years.
Founded by renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Silkroad is dedicated to creating music that transcends cultural boundaries and fosters collaboration. The GMW is a flagship program that brings together musicians from around the world to explore new artistic possibilities and share their cultural heritage through group workshops, elective classes, nightly jam sessions, panel discussions and a multi-night performance festival featuring both faculty and participants.
Reflecting on his participation, Voskanyan remarked: “Silkroad struck a chord with me because of its deep respect for Armenian music. I was deeply moved when I learned that the anthem for the program was Armenian music — ‘Offering’ by Ara Dinkjian. Every day, I had the profound joy of hearing 70 musicians from across the world playing and singing Armenian melodies together. Many of them were unfamiliar with Armenian music, but they were all captivated and eager to learn more. This reaffirmed my belief that Armenian music is truly universal, capable of touching the hearts of people from any nationality.”
In addition to performing, Voskanyan led a masterclass that took participants on a journey through Armenian music, from its pagan roots to modern times, attracting not only participants but program mentors, too.
During the GMW program, Voskanyan was mentored by accomplished and world-known musicians Jamey Haddad, a percussionist in the fields of jazz and world music, Courtney Hartman, a guitarist, songwriter and producer, Edward Pérez, a composer, arranger and bassist, Marcus Printup, a jazz trumpeter, Mike Block, a multi-style cellist, singer, composer and educator, and many more. These industry leaders guided his performances at Boston’s legendary Jordan Hall and offered invaluable feedback on his own compositions, opening doors for future collaborations. Following his performances, audience members expressed their awe, captivated by his intricate techniques, heartfelt vocals and the rich, evocative tones of the Armenian tar.
Before GMW, Voskanyan also performed at ACEC Courtyard on August 2 in a concert organized by Hamazkayin-Boston, Amaras Art Alliance and AGBU New England District. Themed as “Yerevan Nights,” this concert featured his original compositions with new instrumentation supported by distinguished local musicians including Maxim Lubarsky on keyboards, Shahan Nercessian on bass, Martin Haroutunian on folk instruments and Alek Surenian on percussion. The concert attracted not only the Massachusets Armenian community but also prominent figures, students and professors from Berklee College of Music and the NEC, further cementing Voskanyan’s impact on the local music scene.
Voskanyan’s Boston visit marked a significant step towards his mission of expanding contemporary Armenian music globally not only through tours, performances and streams but through cross-cultural collaborations with accomplished global musicians and artists. He envisions a future where the music of Armenia will be celebrated worldwide, performed not only by himself but also by artists from across the globe who recognize the cultural and artistic value of this rich musical heritage.
