João Kouyoumdjian

Gakavig Fantasy: Armenian Music for Classical Guitar. The grant covers the master recording.

The project “Gakavig Fantasy: Armenian Music for Classical Guitar” consists of a digital solo guitar album made up entirely of Armenian music comprising original arrangements of Armenian folkloric songs and premier recordings of new Armenian works by living composers. The recording will take place at the Kolanian Studios in Athens, Greece, in August 2021, and aims to expose different communities to Armenian music, thereby fostering interest in the millenary minority culture that has survived centuries of persecution. Being of Armenian descent myself, this project relates directly to my ancestral heritage and holds profound value to me personally. I welcome the opportunity to reaffirm the musical tradition of my forefathers, whilst at the same time enriching my community network in the US.