Biography

biography

Arsen Sayan

January 10, 1928 - October 5, 2018

Founder, director and guiding spirit of the Knar Armenian Choral Group in Philadelphia and Ani Choral Group in Washington, D.C., Arsen Sayan has given generously without holding back his knowledge and talent to Armenian communities in the Middle East and the United States. Born in Aleppo, Syria, Arsen Sayan received his early training at the Armenian Mkhitarist School. He then attended the Armenian Theological Seminary in Antelias, Lebanon, studying religious music in addition to the regular curriculum. He was also a student of Parsegh Ganatchian and Hampartzoum Berberian, masters in the fields of Armenian classic and popular music.

How it all Began

In 1948, upon graduation from the Seminary, he returned to Syria to teach Armenian language, history and music in St. Joseph Armenian Catholic Secondary School, and in the Gulbenkian, Haygazian and Zavarian Elementary Schools, and at the Karen Yeppe Armenian College in Aleppo. His 90-voice “Shoghagan” Chorus was formed during this time while he directed the 50-voice male choir of the Armenian Cathedral of Aleppo.

Coming to United States

Desiring to share his knowledge and experience with the Armenian youth of America, thereby contributing to a stronger cultural community, Arsen Sayan came to the United States in 1957. Establishing himself in Philadelphia, he was appointed choirmaster of St. Gregory Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church. Shortly after his arrival, he established the combined Choir and Choral Group of St. Gregory. The first performance of this combined Choir and Choral Group was presented in 1959.

knar choral Group

In 1960 Arsen Sayan laid the foundation of the KNAR intercommunal chorus in Philadelphia with the particular intent of promoting pan-Armenian activities. In those difficult times of ideological differences within American-Armenian life, there were mutual reservations about the feasibility of such an endeavor.

But Arsen Sayan, with a group of young adherents started the community-wide KNAR musical movement whose 70-plus members, regardless of differences of opinion, religion and ideological beliefs, became the spiritual anchor for the first and future cooperative efforts within the community.

Gomidas Conservatory, Yerevan

In 1963 an invitation was extended to Arsen Sayan by the Gomidas Conservatory of Music in Yerevan to pursue graduate work as a Diasporan student. He graduated from the Conservatory in 1966 majoring in choral direction and received first-place honors with a concert presentation and dissertation titled “Armenian Religious Music of the Middle Ages.”

ani choral Group, washington d.c.

Returning to the United States from the Gomidas Conservatory in 1966 with enthusiasm and expanded knowledge, Arsen Sayan continued his work in Philadelphia. In 1970 he became the musical-cultural program director of the Voice of America, in Washington D.C. This move to Washington D.C. gave Mr. Sayan an opportunity to establish the ANI Choral Group and continue his work in both cities, KNAR in Philadelphia and ANI in Washington D.C. The final concert by the combined KNAR and Ani Groups was in 2005.