BOSTON — Miqayel Voskanyan, an Armenia-based tar virtuoso and composer, has recently completed a successful tour in Boston on August 2-11, 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 the workshop that took place on August 4-11. His presence marked a powerful moment for Armenian culture, as he proudly represented Armenian culture with the Armenian national instrument – tar, that 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 – composer, arranger and bassist, Marcus Printup – a jazz trumpeter, Mike Block – 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 of him captivated by his intricate techniques, heartfelt vocals, and the rich, evocative tones of the Armenian tar.
