Hometown Hye-Lites: Sevan Sarian Finds Peace with Cello

WAYLAND, Mass.—If there is any correlation between the cello and tranquility, Sevan Sarian allows her instrument and thoughts to roam freely.

Sevan Sarian plucks the strings to her cello at a house party.

The 29-year-old musician began playing in the fourth grade and hasn’t stopped. She graduated from the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music in 2005 and has a master’s degree in special education.

Alhough music is a very tangible part of her life, the fact she teaches special education to severely afflicted students at Franciscan Hospital for Children (Kennedy Day School) is of much greater consequence.

Quite often, both her passions meet in a very compatible way.

“I bring my cello into class and play it for the kids,” says Sarian. “When they hear the music, I can see a change in their behavior. It relaxes them and does the same for me. It erases the stress I might encounter on the job.”

The Soviet Armenian-era cello has done other wonders for Sarian. It introduced her to a husband and got her acquainted to some of the master musicians of Yerevan.

She wound up taking lessons from Medea Abrahamyan after visiting Armenia. It wasn’t long after that when she was introduced to the man of her dreams. Sarian wound up wedding Armen Sarkisian.

“He offered to carry my cello for me and we wound up having dinner,” she smiled. “He makes a great roast chicken. Armen is also my best critic.”

Sarian brought her instrument to a house party in Chelmsford, hosted by Armen and Sossy Jeknavorian, who bid on her services during a silent auction in Boston the night of the Armenian National Committee’s (ANC) awards dinner.

Her sister Tsoleen, an ANC activist, had put her services up for bid.

Sevan took her place on a divan and never stopped entertaining a crowd of 40 guests at a Merrimack Valley ANC reception.

Given the choice between playing for a rock band or symphony orchestra, no contest. The “blue-color” cellist would definitely go rock.

“I may be classically trained but I’m rock at heart,” she admits. “I’ve played in a couple bands and enjoyed the experience.”

As for the future, that remains to be seen.

“I’d love to give lessons and continue playing freelance,” she notes. “The cello fulfills a big part of me and I’m happy to show it off to others.”

(Writer’s note: We will continue this monthly series on unsung heroes of the community. Please send along your ideas and recommendations to: tommyvart@aol.com).

Tom Vartabedian

Tom Vartabedian

Tom Vartabedian is a retired journalist with the Haverhill Gazette, where he spent 40 years as an award-winning writer and photographer. He has volunteered his services for the past 46 years as a columnist and correspondent with the Armenian Weekly, where his pet project was the publication of a special issue of the AYF Olympics each September.
Tom Vartabedian

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