Michael Krikorian in the Faculty of the Department of Music

Eddy Thurber
Staff Writer

Hye Sharzhoom welcomes Dr. Michael Krikorian, one of Fresno State’s newest music professors. Dr. Krikorian was born and raised in Fresno, graduating from University High School and receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from Fresno State, where he took a number of Armenian Studies courses. He now serves as Assistant Professor of Piano and Music Technology in the Department of Music.

Dr. Krikorian took Armenian Language classes and an Arts of Armenia class taught by Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, the Berberian Coordinator of the Armenian Studies Program. Dr. Krikorian also took Armenian Studies 10- Introduction to Armenian Studies with Dr. Sergio La Porta.

Both of Dr. Krikorian’s parents were born in America. “My mother’s father, Isaac Yenovkian, was a survivor of the Genocide. His father had come to America in 1913 to work, and had planned to return to his family in Turkey when the Genocide began in 1915. My grandfather’s brother was taken as a slave and died. His mother was abducted and killed, and he lost his grandmother. He was eventually found and protected by good Samaritans and taken to Kharpet where they found his aunt, Mariam Yenovkian, who had been deported there. She placed him in the American Near East Relief Orphanage where they were able to connect him years later to his father in Chicago. He, his father, and his stepmother relocated to Fresno in 1947.

Even from a young age, it was Dr. Krikorian’s dream to return to Fresno and teach at his alma mater. He received his Master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music and then returned to California for his DMA (Doctorate in Musical Arts) from the University of Southern California (USC). As a child in Fresno, Dr. Krikorian grew up attending St. Paul Armenian Church in Fresno, regularly participating in the Armenian Church Youth Organization (ACYO) and serving on the altar as an Acolyte. Foreshadowing his future achievements, he resonated deeply with the music of the church, the traditional Armenian sharakans [sacred hymns] and the Badarak [Divine Liturgy].

Dr. Krikorian initially aimed to pursue a career in scoring for visual media, but states that “along the way my passion for playing the piano really came into focus…I went to the Manhattan School of Music and practiced all day and all night.” After performing for some time, Dr. Krikorian began teaching as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Keyboard Studies Department at USC.

Dr. Krikorian fell in love with teaching and realized “if I have an opportunity to do this for a living, that would be a dream job!” He recalled a project he completed for his Arts of Armenia class on Komitas, the noted Armenian musician and composer, who eventually inspired him to establish the Komitas Trio. The trio is composed of Krikorian on piano, Garik Terzian on cello, and Aroussiak Baltaian on violin.

“Komitas, a survivor of the Genocide and a symbol of the Armenian people, used the power of music to assert life,” states Dr. Krikorian. Having played with Terzian at a concert and meeting Baltaian through him, Dr. Krikorian approached Terzian with the idea of forming a trio with the goal, “to play all the piano trio literature but also to champion works by Armenian composers, and what a better name for a trio than Komitas.” They hope to perform again soon.

Dr. Krikorian spoke of his regular visits home and his deep roots in Fresno. “Being able to return to Fresno was always my dream, and so when I was offered the position, it was a no-brainer for me. Of course, I jumped on the opportunity. Coming back feels like a homecoming. I grew up here, it’s always felt like home… …it felt very comfortable coming back,” said Dr. Krikorian.

“[Fresno State] has always felt special to me. There is a wonderful sense of community among the students and faculty, and I feel privileged to be a part of it. It is an honor to serve as colleagues with many of my former professors – they have been some of the best mentors I have ever had, and I feel grateful for the opportunity to work alongside them in strengthening our community and empowering our students,” concluded Dr. Krikorian.

The Armenian Studies Program and Hye Sharzhoom welcome Dr. Krikorian to Fresno State and are excited to follow his career and future performances in our community.