It’s Not Hard to Be Kind
Kindness isn’t the hard part of leadership.
Ara Topouzian
Cultural storytelling through music. Essays and reflections on memory, identity, and what it means to carry tradition across generations.
Latest episodes
For the People: A Week of Listening, Learning, and Belonging
How a week with artists from across the country reshaped my understanding of culture, community, and the responsibility of carrying tradition forward.
Why I Play Armenian Music for Non-Armenian Audiences
One of the questions I am asked most often is, “Who do you perform for?”
Bandcamp and the Return of Music Ownership
While streaming platforms dominate music consumption, Bandcamp has quietly become one of the most important tools for independent artists trying to survive.
The Art of Sound: Transforming Music Through Creative Exploration | Colton Weatherston
What happens when you stop chasing the notes—and start listening instead
The Unexpected Role of Armenian Music in Rebuilding Identity After 1915
Listen to Michigan Creates latest episode honoring Armenian Heritage Month
Building Your Artistic Brand: Essential Strategies for Creatives in a Digital World
My latest podcast episode is focused on the artist as an entrepreneur
A Good Laugh
Leadership lessons hidden in everyday stories
Why Women Conductors Matter
Nan Washburn, Conductor, Michigan Philharmonic trailblazes in her role
Business in the Key of D: Helping Michigan Musicians Master the Business Side of Music
Michigan Creates features a conversation with Chris Simpson, Catch & Play Songs
How the Song Was Carried
How Armenian songs were passed, not preserved ...
The Invisible Artist
A Reflection on Michigan's Creative Community
Founders Creates Platform For Connecting Artists to Art Galleries
Recently, I released a podcast episode featuring Dakota and Steve Coy, a husband and wife co-founders that are artists that moved to Michigan back in 2008.
On Story, Mission, and the Threads That Connect Us
I’m honored to be presenting at an upcoming event where I’ll be exploring a question that’s been sitting with me for a long time:
Memory Was the Archive
I keep returning to the fact that much of the music I play was never written down.
Music as memory
I’ve been thinking about how music carries memory in ways history books can’t. This short audio reflection explores that idea through the lens of village and traditional music. It’s not a performance.