Dr. Christopher Kachian, a professor in the University of St. Thomas’ Music Department, will be inducted into the renowned Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity on Sunday, Nov. 13.
The induction festivities, which will include a free musicale and reception, will begin at 2:30 p.m. at Calvary Lutheran Church, 6817 Antrim Rd., in Edina, Minn. It is open to the public.
Kachian, who has given over 500 performances across the globe, will be initiated by the Minneapolis-St. Paul Alumnae Chapter of the fraternity as a Distinguished Member with National Arts Associate status − the highest level of membership open to men. It is conferred upon those who are nationally recognized for distinguished contribution to the arts.
After his induction Kachian will perform Franz Schubert’s “Arpeggione Sonata” for guitar and piano, Francisco Tarrega’s “Capricho arabe” for solo guitar, as well as several jazz standards in collaboration with vocalist Katherine Majkrzak and pianist Susan Anderson-Benson, program manager for The Selim Center for Learning in Later Years and a sister of the fraternity.
The national office of SAI selected Kachian because they “were impressed with his extensive and significant career as a performer, recording artist, educator and writer,” adding that they “believe he will be a wonderful addition to the roster of outstanding musicians who are our Distinguished Members.”
Those notable members include Grammy-award-winning jazz musician Wynton Marsalis and John Williams, legendary composer of film scores for “Star Wars” and “Schindler’s List,” among many others.
Local musicians who have received this honor are Dominick Argento, Paul Fetler, Neville Marinner, Johannes Riedel, Stanislaw Skrowaczewski, Ellen Dinwiddie Smith, Mark Russell Smith, Verne Sutton and Pinchas Zukerman.
Kachian said, “I am particularly gratified and honored to receive this award for two reasons: The SAI group counts among its members many of the finest musicians in our community, some of whom are my good friends. I also have a bit of a history with them. As a young undergraduate music major at the U of M, SAI sponsored a performance competition which, luck had it, I won that year. It was the first competition I would participate in and made the group near and dear to me.”
SAI’s mission is to encourage, nurture and support the art of music with a vision of being recognized throughout the world as the foremost fraternity that supports and encourages musicians of all ages, races and nationalities.
Questions about this event or Kachian’s honor may be directed to Susan Anderson-Benson.