Showing an interest in music in his early youth, Ara played music throughout the public school music program and in college, he began studying Armenian and Middle Eastern classical and folk music. Performing with a local Armenian band, Ara eventually branched out and began performing as a solo and ensemble musician throughout the Midwest and East Coast.
In 1991, he formed American Recording Productions (ARP) with the intent to record and preserve this type of world music. To date, his award winning record label has produced over thirty recordings of Armenian and Middle Eastern music. ARP products are distributed internationally in major retail outlets and can be heard on several world music and NPR radio stations.
He has performed at
several Armenian
weddings and social
events, world music
concerts,
nightclubs, and folk
festivals throughout
the country. Ara's
music has been
featured in several
PBS documentaries
that have been aired
nationwide. Along
with his
Detroit-based world
music ensemble,
Eastern Winds ;
Ara has performed
with several popular
Armenian, Greek, and
Middle Eastern
performers and
ensembles throughout
the country. Some
notable musicians he
has performed
include: George
Mgrdichian, Onnik
Dinkjian, Mal
Barsamian, John
Berberian, Joe
Zeytoonian, James
Stoynoff and the
Chicago Immigrant
Orchestra. He
also has performed
with jazz, fusion,
rock, and blues
artists/ensembles
such as the
following notable
artists: Wendell
Harrison, Sean
Blackman, Colton
Weatherston, and
Immigrant Suns.