Sarkis Shahrigian

Sarkis "Jimmy" Shahrigian (1928-2012) was a Connecticut-based Armenian musician and band leader who often performed at Kef Time, the long-running Armenian music festival held in Connecticut. Jimmy had a long career as a musician playing upright bass and oud in both popular and traditional Armenian bands, which gave him experience with stringed instruments. He performed regularly in the lively Armenian music scene in New England, and after learning with David Ayriyan, worked to introduce the kamancha to his other audiences. On April 24, 2003, Jimmy played an Armenian folk song on the kamancha at Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day at Hartford’s State Capitol, in the presence of the Armenian Ambassador and several survivors of the 1905 genocide. Jimmy was an apprentice in Armenian kamancha playing under master artist David Ayriyan in Years 5 (2003) and 6 (2004) of the Southern New England Apprenticeship Program.