Unplugged Performance by Antranig Kzirian (OUD ) & Mher Mnatsakanyan (Duduk, Clarinet)
Thursday, February 15th, 2024 7 pm
The Center for Armenian Arts
250 North Orange Street
Glendale, CA 91203
747-208-2000
Antranig Kzirian is a foremost practitioner of the ancient, fretless pear-shaped string instrument which has been critical to the development and identity of Armenian music. As a versatile performer interpreting and creating music in various styles, Antranig blends rock, classical, jazz, and folk idioms for breathtaking reimaginations of vintage works, while providing unique and extravagant soundscapes as a songwriter, featured in his projects VI.ZA, String Harmonies, and Kef Time LA. Balancing experimentation and advancement with respect for the legacy of historical Armenian oud mastery, Antranig studied oud with distinguished musicians Ara DerMarderosian, Ara Dinkjian, John Bilezikjian and John Berberian. Antranig’s performance and recording credits extend to Rosa Linn, Serj Tankian of System of a Down, Capital Cities, and numerous others, including working directly with producers/songwriters Warren Huart and Rick Nowels. As a soloist, Antranig’s performance collection album ‘nOUD’ was recently released to critical acclaim, featuring a variety of original, traditional, classical, folk and jazz compositions highlighting the dynamic versatility and artistry of the oud. Antranig has toured internationally with VI.ZA, taking the stage at the world’s preeminent festivals Sziget, Aftershock and Download, among others. Antranig also co-founded TAQS.IM, a world music software and mobile app company dedicated to providing education and cutting-edge production technology in the realm of modal music, and in the furtherance of music education teaches oud at UCLA. Antranig is a first-call oud artist, and maintains an active performance and teaching schedule, and was recently a featured artist @ LAIST.com for LA Weekly. In addition to his music interests, Antranig has remained an active member of the Armenian community wherever he has called home.
Uniquely, one of the driving forces in modern representation of the Armenian Duduk, Mher Mnatsakanyan has spent many years as both a classical Clarinetist as well as a modern Duduk soloist. Most recently, Mher has performed in Carnegie Hall for the 10th Anniversary of AGBU performances. In 2016, Mher became a member of the “Matbookha Groove”, in 2017 Sahara Beat bands and has been playing at Walt Disney world as lead Clarinet and Duduk soloist. Previously, Mher traveled the world playing in the orchestra for the amazing and colorful traditional Chinese cultural show, “Shen Yun Performing Arts”. As a principal clarinet performer, Mher has performed worldwide participating in four world tours with Shen Yun performing arts, most notably, Japan, South Korea, Argentina, Colombia, Taiwan, Canada, all around United States and Europe. Prior to Shen Yun Performing Arts, Mr. Mnatsakanyan spent three years touring with the the Armenian Duduk player, legend and Duduk master Djivan Gasparyan all around Russia and all the former Soviet Union countries.
Born in Armenia in 1984, Mr. Mnatsakanyan began his studies at the Alexander Spendaryan music school and later graduated with a Masters in Music Performance from the Komitas Yerevan State Conservatory. At the age of 15, Mher Mnatsakanyan began touring around the world starting with the talented children’s project “New Names”, most notably performing in the United States, Europe, United Kingdom, and the former Soviet Union. He later performed as the principal clarinetist at the Yerevan State Opera and Ballet orchestra as well as a clarinet soloist at the Tatoul Altounian National Song and Dance Ensemble. Mr. Mnatsakanyan later joined the proclaimed Dudukner Ensemble under the leadership of Duduk master Georgi Minasov. With the Dudukner Ensemble, Mher Mnatsakanyan’s collaborations included classical, jazz, and even traditional works with a Duduk quartet and clarinet. Mher was the artistic director, as well as Duduk and Clarinet performer, at the Shushi Dance group 30th Anniversary concert, in NJPAC New Jersey. In Mher’s recent performance list, he also performed at Carnegie whole with a wonderful Soprano Singer Isabel Bayrakdarian.
After moving to the United States, Mr. Mnatsakanyan has been working hard to introduce more people into the spiritual world of the Armenian Duduk. You can check out some of his new tracks via YouTube or see him live at Walt Disney World in Florida where he performed daily from over two years.
