Michigan Creates

Ara Topouzian

ABOUT MICHIGAN CREATES:
Explore the vibrant arts and culture landscape of Michigan, a state with a thriving creative ecosystem that has birthed iconic movements like Motown and The Purple Rose Theater. Home to legendary musicians, writers, and artists, Michigan boasts a rich tapestry of cultural heritage known worldwide. Michigan Creates is a podcast series that will connect listeners with gifted artists and cultural institutions that are nurturing Michigan's vibrant creative landscape.
PODCAST HOST:
Join your host, Ara Topouzian, an award-winning Armenian musician and advocate for the arts in Michigan. Ara will converse with artists and cultural institutions while exploring the intersection of music and culture and highlighting their work to bolster the artist community that sustains Michigan's creative economy.

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Top 10 Michigan Creates Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Michigan Creates episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Michigan Creates for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Michigan Creates episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

Victor Ghannam, Middle Eastern Musician

Michigan Creates

05/18/24 • 30 min

Tune in to the latest episode of the Michigan Creates podcast, where host Ara Topouzian sits down for a spirited exchange with Victor Ghannam, a multifaceted musician renowned for his virtuosity on diverse instruments and his entrancing fusion compositions. Together, Ara and Victor embark on a journey through their shared love for music, unraveling Victor's captivating narrative as an artist and his illuminating perspectives on the essence of performance and the creative process in music.

Michigan Creates is a podcast series highlighting artists and art & culture organization in Michigan. Produced and hosted by Ara Topouzian, award winning traditional Armenian musician. Podcast theme music: Song: Sun Never Sets Music by: CreatorMix.com

Vince Paul, President, Music Hall of Detroit

Michigan Creates

06/01/24 • 39 min

Tune in to the latest episode of the Michigan Creates podcast, where host Ara Topouzian sits down Vince Paul, President & Artistic Director of Music Hall.

Music Hall in Detroit is a historic theater and performing arts venue located in the heart of downtown, known for its vibrant Art Deco architecture. It hosts a diverse array of performances, including Broadway shows, concerts, dance, and community events, contributing significantly to Detroit's cultural landscape.

Dave Bennett, Musician

Michigan Creates

07/19/24 • 26 min

Ara chats with clarinetist Dave Bennett.
Dave began his national touring career at the age of 14. He has been a featured soloist at Carnegie Hall with The New York Pops (2013) and has been featured with 35 other US and Canadian orchestras including Nashville, Houston, Detroit, Rochester, Omaha, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Orlando, San Antonio, Jacksonville, Portland, OR and Portland, ME. Some of his annual appearances include The Elkhart Jazz Festival, The Suncoast Classic Jazz Festival, The Arizona Classic Jazz Festival, The Sacramento Hot Jazz Jubilee, The Clambake Music Festival, and The Redwood Coast Music Festival.
Dave has been featured on NPR Radio’s “Jazz at Riverwalk.” He made his European debut in 2008 at The Bern Jazz Festival (Switzerland) in a combo with jazz legends and Benny Goodman alumni guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli and vibraphonist Peter Appleyard. He has also shared the stage with Ken Peplowski, Byron Stripling, Marcus Printup, Aaron Diehl, and Bria Skonberg.
He has been featured soloist on several jazz cruises, performing with Harry Allen, Warren Vache, Allan Vache, Banu Gibson, and Tardo Hammer.
Dave is a recording artist on jazz label Mack Avenue Records. His second release, Blood Moon reached No. 24 on the Billboard Jazz charts in 2018.

Michael Hyacinthe, Founder of Wimee TV

Michigan Creates

03/30/24 • 17 min

Ara chats with Michael Hyacinthe, Founder of Wimee TV, an interactive live kids show that encourages imagination, vocabulary building, and storytelling through puppetry, music, and wordplay. Michael is also a veteran of the U.S. Navy and used his experience with wounded veterans to find a creative and therapeutic outlet for them to express themselves.

Julie Dawson, Illustrator, Author, Artist

Michigan Creates

05/01/25 • 22 min

Ara talks with Julie Dawson a Michigan-based artist whose creative journey spans more than five decades. A gifted storyteller, author, and illustrator, Julie has built an extraordinary career bringing imagination to life through her art.

A passionate advocate for the Girl Scouts and other nonprofits, Julie has used her talents to support meaningful causes. She’s also the creator of Sillbillies —a whimsical and inspiring children's book series that delights readers of all ages.

Amanda Stanger-Read, Great Lakes Performing Artists Associates

Michigan Creates

09/07/24 • 19 min

Ara chats with Amanda Stanger-Read is the Executive Director of the Great Lakes Performing Artist Associates (GLPAA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting performing artists throughout the Great Lakes region. With a passion for arts advocacy and a background in artist management, Amanda has been instrumental in fostering connections between talented performers and communities. Under her leadership, GLPAA helps bring diverse, world-class performances to venues large and small, enriching the cultural landscape of the region.

Audra Pieknik, The Art Experience

Michigan Creates

03/01/25 • 13 min

Ara talks with Audra Pieknik, Executive Director of The Art Experience.

The Art Experience in Michigan is a vibrant celebration of creativity, showcasing the diverse talents of local artists and fostering a deeper connection to the arts within the community. From gallery exhibitions to interactive workshops, this initiative offers a rich array of artistic experiences that highlight Michigan's dynamic art scene. Whether you're exploring contemporary works, engaging with thought-provoking installations, or participating in hands-on creative activities, The Art Experience is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the cultural heartbeat of the state, where art and community come together to inspire and unite.

Stephen Mack Jones, Author

Michigan Creates

02/19/24 • 23 min

Ara chats with author Stephen Mack Jones is a published poet, an award-winning playwright, and a recipient of the prestigious Kresge Arts in Detroit Literary Fellowship. He was born in Lansing, Michigan, and currently lives in Farmington Hills, outside of Detroit. Ara and Stephen talk about his novel series, August Snow as well as his advice for aspiring writers.

Jeff Karoub, Folk Musician

Michigan Creates

05/04/24 • 36 min

In the latest episode of the Michigan Creates podcast, join your host Ara Topouzian as he engages in a lively conversation with Jeff Karoub, a versatile artist known for his mastery across multiple instruments and his enchanting folk compositions. Together, Jeff and Ara delve into their shared love for music, while also delving into Jeff's intriguing journey as a journalist and his insightful perspectives on the art of performance and music creation.

Xiao Dong Wei, Chinese Musician

Michigan Creates

04/16/24 • 30 min

Michigan Creates podcast host, Ara Topouzian chats with Xiao Dong Wei, a master musician that plays bother classical and Chinese music. Xiao plays traditional Chinese instruments such as the pipa and the guzheng (a 21-stringed zither) while minoring in classical piano, but it was the erhu that would elevate her status as a world class musician.

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FAQ

How many episodes does Michigan Creates have?

Michigan Creates currently has 17 episodes available.

What topics does Michigan Creates cover?

The podcast is about Culture, Art, Visual Arts, Music, Writers, Author, Artists, Nonprofit, Podcasts, Arts, Michigan, Dance and Performing Arts.

What is the most popular episode on Michigan Creates?

The episode title 'Victor Ghannam, Middle Eastern Musician' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Michigan Creates?

The average episode length on Michigan Creates is 26 minutes.

How often are episodes of Michigan Creates released?

Episodes of Michigan Creates are typically released every 26 days, 22 hours.

When was the first episode of Michigan Creates?

The first episode of Michigan Creates was released on Feb 19, 2024.

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Michigan Creates

Ara Topouzian

Top 10 Michigan Creates Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does Michigan Creates have?

What topics does Michigan Creates cover?

What is the most popular episode on Michigan Creates?

What is the average episode length on Michigan Creates?

How often are episodes of Michigan Creates released?

When was the first episode of Michigan Creates?

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