About

Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce to you and your FESTIVAL staffs to our “Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble's” 8-14 music conservatory graduate musicians from Armenia and the USA's; past numerous performances, awards and information.

We have performed many successful Armenian cultural programs for: museums, universities, concert halls, festivals, special exhibits organizations, churches, diverse events, etc. across the USA and Armenia for the past 24 years.

We are the only Armenian Ensemble, to my knowledge, that has created a BRIDGE between our historic Western and Eastern Armenian songs and folk dances; that have been performed in all of our distinct musical and cultural presentations.

Therefore, I feel based on my highly successful artistic concerts, festivals and exhibits performances, we would be a good fit to fully complement any World Music Folk Festival across the USA and world!

MAJOR CREDITS & AWARDS:

SAN FRANCISCO WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES:
Our “Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble's” had two major separate festival performances that were very well attended and enjoyed by the diverse audiences of California, Oregon and Washington. Our second traditional Armenian music CD “Avantagan” was recorded live at the “San Francisco World Music Festival.”

REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA:
Mr. Robert Kocharian, the President of Armenia, invited our “Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble,”to perform for the “Republic of Armenia,” for a one-month CONCERT & FESTIVAL tour.Our final concert was held at “The Grand Philharmonic Concert Hall,” in Yerevan, Armenia.Cultural Ambassador, Mr. Royland Sharoyan, presented us with “National Gold Medal Award of Armenia.”

J. PAUL GETTY MUSEUM:
We had the honor and distinct pleasure to perform for the “J. Paul Getty Museum's” “Armenian Exhibit” to an audience of 3000 + attendees.

PBS CHANNEL18, TV CALIFORNIA FILMING:
U-Tube Armenian Concert videos: Our successful “Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble's” PBS, Channel 18 TV, Armenian concert program; that was performed at California State University, Fresno.
Over 2 million people viewed our PBS TV Channel 18 TV broadcast of our Armenian music and culture several times!

INTERNATIONAL MUSIC GRAMMY AWARD:
“2010 International Armenian Grammy Award,” We were the 1st Place Winners.The Awards Ceremony was held at the world-famous, 7000 seat, Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, CA.

INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS:
We were the winners of the 2006 “Independent Music Awards” Our Chookasian Ensemble's live concert Armenian CD Album “Passage to Armenia,” was the 1st Place Winner, as the “Best Traditional World Music CD Album”; in the “Traditional World Music,” category; that was selected from thousands of CD submissions from around the world!

JOHN F. KENNEDY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER: John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center, Armenian Concert event, held in Washington, D.C. Ambassador, Dr. Arman Kirakossian, of the 'Republic of Armenia Embassy' was the 'Master of Ceremonies,' for our 'Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble's event.

Our Armenian Ensemble has produced 5 successful live concert & festival CD's at the following institutions:

1. 'Armenian Songs & Dances,' (Los Angeles Main Library-Mark Taper Concert Hall);
2. 'Avantagan' (Recorded live at San Francisco World Music Festival);
3. 'Echoes From the Past” (Recorded live at CSU, Fresno);
4. 'Passage to Armenia,' (Recorded live CSU, Northridge);
5. “Visions of Armenia,' (Recorded live at CSU, Fullerton):
6. We will be producing another live concert Armenian CD during 2018;
7. All of our recordings are catalogued in the “Library of Congress” (Folk Music/Songs) Washington, D.C.

UNIVERSITY PERFORMANCES:
Numerous major successful performances: at various universities and concert halls in California, across the USA and Armenia.

MAJOR AWARDS:

1. “The Annual “Horizon Awards Celebration,” “The Fresno Arts Council” and Mayor Alan Autry, was held in Fresno City Hall, presented John Chookasian, with the “Artist of the Year Award.”

1. Former Mayor Willie Lewis Brown, Jr. presented the “Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble,”with a “Certificate of Honor” from the City & County of San Francisco, CA.

1. Fresno City Council President, Mr. Henry Perea, presented the “Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble,”with the “Key to Fresno City Award,” in Fresno City Hall and at Arte Americas Museum.

1. “Annual Traditional Cultural Artist Award” Fresno Cit y Hall – by Fresno Mayor, Ashley Swearengin, &  The City of Fresno Councilmen, The Fresno City Historic Preservation Department and the Fresno    Arts  Council presented this award to John and Barbara Chookasian and The Chookasian Armenian Ensemble.

1. During 2010 & 2015, we also were acknowledged and awarded with a “Certification Of Appreciation” byFresno's Mayor Ashley Swearengin and Fresno City Councilman, Andreas Borgeas, regarding our uniquetraditional Armenian Music CD's and for our Chookasian Ensemble.