Hurriyet Daily News

Renowned Armenian artist on stage for the disabled

Thursday, September 24, 2009
ISTANBUL – Antolia News Agency

Worldwide known Armenian lute virtuoso Ara Dinkjian, whose family
migrated to America in the beginning of 19th century, will appear on
stage in Istanbul’s Hagia Irene as part of a hospital project to be
built for the disabled.

Speaking to the Anatolia news agency, Dinkjian said his grandfather
went from the eastern Turkish city of Diyarbakır to France at
the beginning of the 19th century, and after the death of his parents,
his father was adopted by a family. Later on, his father immigrated to
America and he was born in 1958 in New Jersey, Dinkjian said.

Dinkjian said he didn’t have relatives in Diyarbakır, adding
that he went there for the first time in his life five years ago. He
said his father was involved in music and thanks to that he learned
how to play lute on his own in his early childhood.

Dinkjian said he had formed a band named Night Ark with Arto
Tunçboyacıyan, and made two albums titled `Armenian in
America’ and `Peace on Earth.’

His biggest dream is to give a concert in Diyarbakır

`One side of me is Armenian, and the other is American. Both sides are
nourished by each other. I am inspired by all types of music, such as
Armenian music, Anatolian melodies and American blues,’ Dinkjian said.

He said his biggest dream was to play for an audience in
Diyarbakır, and that he would feel like returning home if he
got a chance to perform there.

Dinkjian, who has previously given a concert in Turkey, will appear on
a Turkish stage once again on Sept. 26 for the benefit of the Turkish
Disabled Society, or TSD. Dinkjian will be accompanied by Turkish folk
singer Erdal Akkaya during the concert titled `Roots and Branches.’

The revenues from the show will be donated to the project `life
house,’ to be constructed with a capacity of 500 beds in the Marmara
city of Balıkesir’s Gönen district.