Ara Dinkjian is a highly acclaimed Armenian-American musician, composer, and master oud player widely considered one of the finest virtuosos of the instrument in the world. Born in New Jersey in 1958, he began his musical journey accompanying his father, the legendary Armenian folk and liturgical singer Onnik Dinkjian. In 1980, he graduated from the Hartt College of Music with the first and only specialized degree in oud performance in the United States. Dinkjian is renowned as the founder of the pioneering world fusion instrumental group Night Ark, and his compositions have achieved global appeal, being recorded in over thirteen different languages. His multi-platinum hit song “Homecoming” (Dinata Dinata) famously served as part of the soundtrack for the closing ceremonies of the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
