Today we’d like to introduce you to Shushana Hakobyan
Shushana, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Growing up, I was surrounded by scientists. My dad and his colleagues all had a great love for music. We lived in the city of Ashtarak on the grounds of the Institute of Physical Research. I have some memories from my early childhood of how passionate these physicists were about their work. At six years old, I was accepted to Ayvazyan School of Music. My first piano teacher was a beautiful woman with striking features and big sparkly eyes. She instilled in me my love for music and I decided to pursue it full time at Romanos Melikyan Music College and finished my Masters at Yerevan State Conservatory. After countless competitions and tours all over the world including countries like USA, Canada, Ukraine, Russia, Italy, Austria, and Lebanon with SHELL Piano Trio, I decided to take a chance to move to the United States. Here I formed Unison Duet Music Productions foundation in collaboration with an Armenian violinist and composer, Ruben Aghiyan. Our project Keep Armenian Borders Spiritually Strong was dedicated to bringing music lessons to Armenian children living in areas divested by war. Being motivated by this, I also created Music For Unity which would focus on promoting music and musicians all over the world. Our current project Homecoming Return To Artsakh is a composition competitions with six finalists all across United States, who have had the chance to create some of the most beautiful compositions on Armenian Artsakh themes. The reason for creating this project was to first and foremost spread a message about displaced people. We believe that the Armenians who have been displaced in 2023 have a universal right to go back to their ancestral land and live in their homes. This is first and foremost not a political message, but a humanitarian one, and we are excited for the six finalists to show the beauty of Armenian music in the final concert on September 28.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Throughout my professional career I have not faced the same hardships as I have when creating Music For Unity. Creating an organization that deals with sensitive topics that are over politicized by media is very hard. Our goal is to communicate real life humanitarian issues through music and art, such as performing music of underrepresented composers of different backgrounds. We have had instances where our messages and announcements get blocked on social media because people don’t agree with them and take an extreme stance. It can definitely be a very bitter feeling, but it only pushes us to continue doing our work.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am most proud of my performing and teaching career. Being able to touch people’s lives (even for a moment) through music is an incredible feeling. Teaching is very similar to performing in a way, but it is even more rewarding since I am able to pass on my knowledge to someone else and be a part of their lives in a very special way. Sort of like my first teacher instilled that love for music in me, it is my primary goal to do the same for my students.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
The source of my happiness is my family. It is the foundation of my life and work, and the main reason I strive to do my best every day.
Pricing:
- Tickets For Music For Unity: $30
Contact Info:
- Website: https://musicforunity.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shushanahakobyan/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pianistshushanahakobyan
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shushanahakobyan8930/videos
- Other: https://www.shushanahakobyan.com/
