SKU: A0.1341757

The creation of 'Canadian Streams' was inspired by two important milestones – the 150th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation and the 60th anniversary of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Canada. For this initiative, the composer has chosen a poem written by the father of Canadian poetry, Charles G. D. Roberts. The text portrays the countless spectacular Canadian rivers that were the “witnesses� and “storytellers� of the great, beautiful, and welcoming country’s rich history.

About the Composer

Vahram Sarkissian is an Armenian-Canadian composer, conductor, and singer currently residing in Montreal, Canada. His writing style represents a musical palette ranging from influences by V century Armenian medieval chant to previously unreported endogenous vocal extended techniques. Sarkissian's music has been performed in dozens of countries including the UK, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Japan, Canada, and the USA. 

His arrangement of an Armenian ancient chant Great Mystery has been included in the Oxford University Press anthology World Carols for Choirs and has been recorded by the BBC Singers. Sarkissian's instrumental work Hunting the Hunter was premiered under his baton at Carnegie Hall in 2012. His composition Joyful Light for choir has been performed more than a hundred times around the world.

Vahram Sarkissian is also active as a lecturer. His workshops and presentations on extended vocal techniques are frequently featured at the most prestigious choral festivals and symposia around the world. Some of his recent lecturing events were at the World Symposium on Choral Music (Barcelona, Spain), ACDA Regional Conference (Pittsburgh, USA), International Festival of Choral Music Europa Cantat (Tallinn, Estonia), World Voice Day at Royal College of Music (Stockholm, Sweden), Podium Choral Conference and Festival (Toronto, Canada), among others.

Vahram Sarkissian holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in composition and choral conducting. He is a member of the Composers’ Union of Armenia. He has served as a music consultant for European Choral Association (2010-2012).