The internationally acclaimed Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble consists of artistic director and founder John Chookasian on clarinet, Barbara Chookasian on lead vocals, Ishmael on kanun, Paul Ohanesian on oud, and Mark Toomajian on dumbeg.

John Chookasian was inducted into the California Central Valley Music Hall of Fame in 2024, and the group has received many honors, including Armenia’s National Gold Medal Award and an International Armenian Grammy Award.

Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble

The concert will begin with a suite of Arab art and popular music. There will be instrumental genres rooted in shared traditions of the Ottoman era, choir pieces that include famous examples of the muwashshah—aa genre of poetry and song that originates from the artistic milieu of 10th-century Andalusia—aand two contemporary dance pieces.

The second half of the show will feature a variety of traditional and popular Armenian music genres interspersed with solos by members of the Chookasian Armenian Concert Ensemble, then the two ensembles will join forces to perform “Ah Ya Zayn” (“Oh Beautiful”), a popular folksong arranged by Arab Music Ensemble Director Ken Habib.

The Arab Music Ensemble is an orchestra and choir with vocal and instrumental soloists. Its membership represents a wide range of majors on campus and professions off campus. The dance troupe, directed by San Luis Obispo dance director Jenna Mitchell, has collaborated with the ensemble since its formation in 2006. 

Renowned composers, poets, and artists to be represented in the concert hail from Armenia, Egypt, Lebanon, and Turkey and include Cemil Bey, Fairuz, Hayrig Ghazarian, Komitas Vartab, Morsi Gamil Aziz, Mounir Mourad, the Rahbani Brothers, Sayyid Darwish, and Tatoul Altounian.

Tickets are $17 and $22 for the public, and $12 for students. Event parking is sponsored by the PAC. Tickets are available at the Cal Poly Ticket Office between noon and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. To order by phone, call 805-SLO-4TIX (805-756-4849). 

The event is sponsored by Cal Poly’s Music Department, College of Liberal Arts, and Instructionally Related Activities program.

For more information, visit the Music Department’s calendar website, email music@calpoly.edu, or call 805-756-2406.