A STRINGER IN CHINA: LEVON ICHKHANIAN PACKS HIS GUITAR FOR A MUSICAL TREK THROUGH THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC
By Errol Nazareth

The Toronto Sun
August 29, 2008 Friday

When guitar ace Levon Ichkhanian says he’s always "believed that
music is the tool to connect people," you get the sense he isn’t just
mouthing a platitude.

Over the years, the Armenian axman has collaborated with a wild mix
of prominent musicians from various genres — in fact, making it a
point to seek them out and sell them on his intentions and passion.

So, when the International Performing Arts for All (IPAFA) organization
came to him with an invitation to tour Wuhan, Shenzhen and Guaungzhou
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Ichkhanian jumped at the opportunity.

RESONATES LOUDLY

On its website, IPAFA describes itself as "an international group
of artists, Olympians, Paralympians and producers, dedicated to
actualizing the potential of the arts to affect positive change in
the global village."

Joining Ichkhanian on the Marriage of Excellence Tour — yeah, I know,
dreadful name — will be piano virtuoso Oliver Jones, Justin Hines
and Sheila E.

While IPAFA’s lofty mandate might invite cynicism, Ichkhanian takes
it at face value. He says it resonates loudly with him.

"My musical travels have connected me with a diverse group of talented
people from all cultures and styles of music around the world,"
he said in an email interview from Beijing.

"People like (iconic Indian film composer) A.R. Rahman, (Indian singer)
Hariharan, (ex-Bauhaus frontman) Peter Murphy, (opera singer) Isabel
Bayrakdarian, Janne Lappalainen from (Finnish folk group) Vaartina.

"These unions inspire me to incorporate many different sounds like
Armenian, Middle Eastern, Brazilian in my performances and recordings,
so when I was asked to be a part of an international event that
brings together such talents from around the globe as (jazz singer)
Dee Dee Bridgewater and Oliver Jones, I did not hesitate one bit."

Ichkhanian says he’ll perform a traditional Armenian piece titled
Siroun and will also play an original composition titled The Gift
with the Beijing Symphony Orchestra.

The Gift was commissioned by the Nashville Chamber Orchestra and
Ichkhanian says it will be great to play it orchestrally since he
hasn’t done that since its premiere in Nashville seven years back.

Growing up in a well-known musical family in Lebabnon helped shaped
Ichkhanian’s musical philosophy.

"I was fortunate to attend many concerts, art exhibits and dance
performances featuring local and international artists," he says.

"The days and nights were blurred; no one looked at their
watch. Everyone was living in the moment, enjoying everything that
life had to offer. In a sense, this time allowed me to look through
the window of this cosmopolitan life and as I got older to experience
it first-hand.

LIVING IN THE MOMENT

"I continue to live my life every day that way — with a focus on my
family, good friends, good food and music, and to fully experience
the moment," Ichkhanian says.

"Whether I am in Toronto or Bangalore, India, my Armenian-Lebanese
way of living and thinking is always with me."

Being in Beijing, he adds, has inspired him spiritually and
emotionally.

"Everywhere you go you hear people speaking foreign languages and
you run into athletes everywhere," Ichkhanian says of his overlap
with the Olympic maelstrom. "Some of the Canadian wrestling team
members stayed in my hotel. Hanging out with them, hearing their
stories, seeing their commitment to excellence and their patience
and perseverance to get to the Olympic stage is very powerful.

"It all made sense when I witnessed them in action at a wrestling
competition — the match represented their lifetime of practice which
was all focused into this ultimate competition," he adds.

"The athletes here are the best in the world. When seeing this all
around you, you are naturally inspired to be and do your best."