Armenian-Canadian Master of Multiple Music Modes Levon Ichkhanian to Perform Intimate Concert Clinic

Levon Ichkhanian -- Toronto-based world/jazz musician, avid explorer of improvisation, composer, producer, international touring musician, recording artist, and master of things with strings including fretless and fretted electric and acoustic Guitars, Oud, Bouzouki (Greek and Irish), Banjitar, and Mandolin –- will be performing a public concert and clinic in Richmond Hill on Monday, April 20.

Currently performing in the smash hit Jersey Boys, Levon has toured the world with his own band as well as notable performers as Peter Murphy from Bahaus, A.R. Rahman of “Slumdog Millionaire” fame, and renown Middle Eastern artists. Levon has performed at the Beijing Olympics and numerous jazz festivals, guitar festivals and folk festivals. He has released three solo CDs (with Grammy award winners John Patitucci, Paquito D'Rivera, and Bernard Purdie, as well as former UZEB band member Alain Caron) and has played on over 100 commercially released recordings for a range of artists from Canadian Idol to Isabel Bayrakdarian to India’s renowned Hariharan, two of which (one that he performed on and one that he performed on and produced) were nominated for 2009 Juno Awards. He composed for the Nashville Chamber Orchestra, and has created soundtracks including David Suzuki’s The Nature of Things, Little Mosque on the Prairie, Relic Hunter, Atom Egoyan’s Looking for Nothing (Levon composed and performed all instruments), the NFB’s The Hockey Game, and numerous documentaries. He was an orchestra member in the world premiere stage production of Lord of the Rings, followed by numerous other theatre productions including Spamalot, My Fair Lady, and 3 Mo’ Divas. Recognized by the industry for his talents, Levon endorses D’Addario strings, Kalis Bouzoukis, Godin guitars, Intellitouch tuners and Gold Tone Banjitars, is a regular contributor to Canadian Musician Magazine, and the subject of cover features for industry magazines, most recently Muzic Etc. Born into a family of musicians in Lebanon, Levon Ichkhanian's (pronounced LE-von ish-KHAN-nee-an) first professional gig was at the age of 13, and he was awarded The Canadian All-star Jazz award at the age of 16. More information about Levon Ichkhanian is online at www.levonmusic.com.

Levon’s improvisation skills and explorations form the basis for his workshops, master classes and published articles. He has conducted over 100 clinics, masterclasses and artist residences worldwide and was awarded the International Association of Jazz Educator's Award for "Outstanding Service to Jazz Education".

Levon Ichkhanian will share his wealth of knowledge covering a span of over 30 years of professional experience in performance, touring, producing, recording and composing in his clinic presentation and perform a concert with his band on Monday April 20, 2009. The clinic and concert will take place at 7:00p.m. at the Cosmopolitan Music Hall in the Cosmo Music Superstore at 10 Via Renzo Drive in Richmond Hill Ontario. With the $10.00 admission, you will receive $5 gift voucher from Cosmo Music. Info and ticket purchases are available at www.cosmomusic.ca, 905-770-5222, 1-800-463-3000, or email management@levonmusic.com.

Multi-instrumentalist Levon Ichkhanian performs in Olympic Tour

Multi-instrumentalist/producer Levon Ichkhanian is currently in Beijing to perform in a historic event uniting Western and Eastern stars with artists living with disabilities on the world stage held during the 10 days between the Olympic and Paralympic games. He joins Shiela E, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Oliver Jones, Taylor Dane and others on the Marriage of Excellence Tour in China, with specially taped messages from Celine Dion, Chaka Khan and Itzhak Perlman.

One of only 3 Canadians invited to participate, Levon will represent his Armenian-Canadian heritage in his performance. Levon will perform a traditional Armenian song "Siroun" as well as as one of his own compositions commissioned by the Nashville Chamber Orchestra, "the Gift", with the Beijing Symphony Orchestra.

A versatile musician with large international appeal and experience, Levon's musical travels have connected him with a diverse group of talented people from all cultures and styles of music from around the world (A.R. Rahman, Hariharan, Peter Murphy, Isabel Bayrakdarian, Janne Lappalainen from Varttina, among others). This has inspired Levon to incorporate many different sounds in his music (e.g. Armenian, Middle Eastern, Brazilian, Indian, etc) earning his recognition for his efforts in blending cultural influences both in his live performances and on his CDs, "after hours" and "travels". He is a sought after clinician and teacher, having delivered hundreds of sessions across Canada, United States and Europe, and was awarded the International Association of Jazz Educator's Award for "Outstanding Service to Jazz Education".

"I believe that music is the common voice for all cultures, so, it was an honour to be asked to perform and represent my culture during the Tour," states Ichkhanian.

Upon his return from performing in Beijing, Levon will be returning to the studio to record his next CD and is putting the finishing touches to an improvisation method book.