Oral History with Artur Bobikyan

00:00 Introduction to interview

00:22 Name, date of birth, place of birth

00:47 Childhood: happy childhood, attending kindergarten, being looked after by an Iranian neighbour

02:58 School years: Russian influence to schooling, learning to play piano, moving to Tchaikovsky professional music school in Yerevan, studying piano and conducting and composing

07:38 Families reactions to his musical talents

10:46 Memories of grandparents: paternal grandfather governor of Etchmiadzin and lemonade factory owner, paternal grandmother head of libraries [in Etchmiadzin?], maternal grandmother was a spiritual influence, her life was impacted by the genocide

19:41 Person who had the most positive influence on his life: maternal grandmother and neighbour Mrs Sonia

21:42 Effect of the genocide experienced by his grandparents

25:07 Childhood aspirations for life: becoming a composer but no thoughts of leaving Armenia

27:45 Exemption from Armenian military service due to being organist, then being illegally conscripted by the army

34:14 Coming to the UK: First visit to the UK at the invitation of Baroness Cox to play in the UK, then visits for special occasions (e.g. opening of Armenian church in London) then invitation by diocese in UK to work for them in London

36:14 Influence of time in military

37:25 Musical influences, playing for the BBC, beginning career as a composer in the West, recording first piano album with the Northern College of Music

40:11 Experience of London and Manchester, playing for Pope’s visit to UK in Manchester,

44:53 Beyond role as Deacon, other roles in the Armenian community in Manchester – Church, School and music. Comments on Manchester community and compares to Paris Armenian community

46:58 Experience of racism post Brexit referendum

47:58 Mothers visits to the North West of England

50:46 Plans for future and career in North West of England. Celebrating 150 years of Armenia community in the North West

53:20 Keeping alive the Armenian heritage alive, Soviet attacks on the Armenian church then later funded by the Soviet regime, importance of remembering and preserving roots

56:21 Possible return to Armenia in the future, preservation of Armenian social customs in Armenia

58:37 End of interview