Their website defines VIZA as “a passport into a musical endeavor that touches its conspirators, cultural, spiritual, and literal influences, while translating them into a perfect balance of old world nostalgia, modern experimentation and social revival.”
Our translation: damn good music!
If you haven’t already heard of the rock band VIZA, you’re in for a real treat. Comprised of a bevy of talented multi-national band members, many of whom are of Armenian descent, they bring a fresh new experience to today’s “been there, done that” rock music scene.
Don’t believe us? Check out this awesome video for their wickedly beautiful song “Breakout the Violins”, directed by Tadeh Daschi.
Now, that’s good stuff!
Wanna see and hear more? Here’s their latest release “Trans-Siberian Standoff”…
Do you believe us now?
While there’s no doubt that their music is strong enough to stand on its own, it doesn’t hurt that the band is managed by Serjical Strike, the company that’s run by System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian.
Sarkis Baltaian, emerging as one of the most promising young pianists of his generation, has gained an international reputation as a concert pianist, soloist, chamber musician and recording artist. Praised by critics for his “beautiful tone and ability to project even the most delicate pianissimos” and compared to George Gershwin and Oscar Levant for his performance of Gershwin’s Concerto in F, Mr. Baltaian made his Carnegie Hall Debut in 1999 and has performed extensively throughout the United States, Germany, Austria, Holland, Czech Republic and Bulgaria. He has frequently appeared as a soloist with various orchestras including USC Thornton Symphony, American Youth Symphony, Plovdiv, Pleven, Sliven Philharmonics, Sofia Soloist Orchestra (Bulgaria), to name a few. Together with his sister violinist Aroussiak Baltaian, he has been featured as a guest artist at the 1999 Los Angeles Philharmonic International Gala and also appeared at the 2000 World Piano Pedagogy Convention in Las Vegas.
Mr. Baltaian is the 1999 winner of the USC Piano Concerto Competition. He is also a Grand prize winner of the Armenian Allied Arts Association Competition, the “Young Piano Virtuosi” International Competition in the Czech Republic and the “Svetoslav Obretenov” National Competition in Bulgaria. His festival appearances include the Aspen International Music Festival, Holland Music Sessions and Plovdiv International Chamber Music Festival. Mr. Baltaian has made numerous recordings for Television and Radio Stations in the United States, Holland, Czech Republic and Bulgaria. He has been featured in live radio broadcasts on KUSC “Sundays at Four”, Los Angeles, WMFT’s “Dame Myra Hess” series in Chicago, KNPR Classical series, Las Vegas.
Sarkis Baltaian, of Armenian descent was born in Plovdiv, Bulgaria and began to study piano at the age of four with Rositza Ivancheva at the “Dobrin Petkov” Music School. Awarded a merit scholarship from the University of Southern California and grants from AGBU-New York and USC Friends of Armenian Music, he continued his education at USC where he received the Bachelor and Masters of Music Degrees and became the Outstanding Graduate of the Keyboard Department. His principal teacher has been John Perry and he has also worked with various musicians such as Sergiu Commisiona, Larry Livingston, Alan Remington, Vasil Kazandjiev, Emile Naumov, Karl-Ulrich Schnabel, Gyorgy Sandor, Menahem Pressler, John O’Connor, Germaine Muniet, Lee Kum-Sing, Edna Golandsky, Nina Scolnik, Milton Stern, Sergei Dorensky, Dmitri Bashkirov.
Sarkis Baltaian is a frequent adjudicator for such organizations as the California Association of Professional Music Teachers, Music Teachers Association of California, Southwestern Youth Music Festival and was recently appointed to become the District Coordinator for CAMPT District IX.
From 2002-2006, Dr. Baltaian served as the teaching assistant to Professor John Perry at the University of Southern California and was also a member of the piano faculty at the California State University, Los Angeles from 2005-2008.
Currently, Dr. Baltaian is an Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
There is no question that Tata Simonyan has taken the Armenian music industry by storm. One of the most popular performers to enter the Armenian music scene, his passionate performances and lively stage presence, not to mention his great voice, have endeared him to Armenian’s the world-over.
If you’ve never seen Tata perform, here’s your chance! Watch exclusive clips from Tata’s unforgettable concert in Yerevan, Armenia, available only on LittleArmenia.com! A special thank you to Parseghian Records for providing concert footage.
