Known as “The Music Man,” Leo Sarkisian hosted “Music Time in Africa” on Voice of America (VOA) radio for 40 years. Sarkisian will make remarks about his musical experiences in the presentation “Travels and Ethnomusicology” from 4-6 p.m. Feb. 16 at in Room 100 of the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library.
The presentation is part of a celebration of the digitization of Sarkisian’s nearly 50 years of field recordings of African music. The internationally known musician and ethnomusicologist also will display his “Faces of Africa” paintings.
Upon his retirement from the VOA in 2004, Sarkisian told the Internet news site ArmenianDiaspora.com, “Shortly after Edward R. Murrow became head of the U.S. Information Agency, he made his first trip to Africa. In Guinea, he told the ambassador he wanted to see me. We met, and he recruited me for USIA. He told me he wanted USIA to begin broadcasts to Africa. And that’s how it began.” Sarkisian met many of Africa’s influential statesmen and artists over his career.
The Leo Sarkisian Internship Program, now in its 23rd year, is part of a growing effort to provide Armenian Americans greater opportunities to explore careers on Capitol Hill, in the U.S. Foreign Service and key Washington, D.C., foreign policy think tanks. It is a part of the Armenian National Committee of America Capital Gateway Program, designed to help university students and graduates find internships and permanent positions in Congressional offices as well as a host of other government agencies and policy groups.
A reception will follow Sarkisian’s Feb. 16 talk.
