
- Born in 1952, Dr. Edward Torikian is a Lebanese citizen of Armenian origin.
- He received preliminary musical knowledge in the convent of Bzommar (Lebanon) with P. Leonce Der-Minassian learning to play the harmonium. Since that time he continued to develop his personal knowledge. In 1976, during the civil war in Lebanon, he directed choirs in Aleppo and Damascus with his own arrangements and orchestrations.
- In 1985, he won the Masters in Musicology at the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik learning academically composition materials with Father Joseph Waked. Immediately, he began to teach these subjects in the Holy Spirit University of Kaslik where he was responsible for the post of Head of Section of theoretical musical subjects.
- In 1988, he attended intensive courses at the National Conservatory of Yerevan Komitas, specializing in composition and choral conducting with Arthur Véranian.
- In 2004, he earned a Doctorate in musicology, sacred music option, in the University of Kaslik, with great distinction.
- His marriage to Laura Antossian in 2005 was a great source of moral inspiration to him,as well as a great support in managing his work affairs.
- Activities of music education:
- S. College Vartan (Aleppo, 1975-1976)
- St. Gregory College, Mesrobian, St. Agnes, Tekeyan (Beirut, 1980-1995)
- Y. Manookian College (1996-2010)
- College of Music P. Ganatchian (1986-1988)
- Direction of the School of Music USEK-Tekeyan (1992-1997)
- Directorate Music Centre P. L. Der-Minassian, Ste-Croix Zalka (1997-2011)
- USEK (since 1986 to present).
- Choral activities:
- Choirs Komitas, Nayiri and L. Nadjarian (Aleppo and Damascus, 1976-1978)
- Chorale Cilicia (Beirut Jetawi, 1980-2008)
- Chorale AGBU-Tekeyan (Beirut, 1989)
- Chorale Groong (1992 to present).
- Choir Al-Bustan Festival (2012 to present).
- Compositions, arrangements and orchestrations:
- Publication of three musical works: Bzommar Hymnal (2007), Collection of the Armenian Church Mass Songs (2008), Spiritual Songs (2008).
- Syriac songs orchestration for the orchestra of Damascus (2006), two religious oratorios played by the Symphony Orchestra of Sophia Bulgaria (2011), Christmas Oratorio (Wadia Sabra, USEK 202), Nouqaddem lakom Watan (Musical Theatre Lebanon, 2012).
- One hundred Arab and Armenian songs performed by various artists and choirs in Lebanon (Jahida Wehbe , Abir Nehme, Tania Saleh, Raymond Ghattas, and others)
- Two Catalan songs for youth choirs of Barcelona (2010).
- Awards:
- Blessing of the Pope John Paul II (1996)
- Blessing of the Pope Benedictus XVI (2006)
- Blessing of His Beatitude Kasparian (1997)
- Blessing of His Beatitude Nerses Bedros XIX-(2008)
- Congratulations from the President of the Republic. Lebanese Herawi Elias (1995)
- Distinction of the Lebanese Ministry of Culture (2002)
- Distinction of the Municipality of Tripoli (2005)
- Awards granted by the Tekeyan Cultural Association (1994)
- Awards granted by the Komitas Choir of Anjar (2004)
- Awards granted by the parish of St-Elie Beirut (2009)
- Honors awarded by the College Ste Croix Zalka (2013)
- With the Fayha Choir of Tripoli (Lebanon)
- The strong collaboration between the Fayha Choir’s conductor, Maestro Barkev Taslakian and Dr. Edward Torikian dates from the beginning of the Choir’s foundation and even before.
- At the beginning, E. Torikian provides its Arabic former arrangements to Fayha Choir (El-Helwa Deeh, Al-Hurriyya, Telhet Ya Mahla Norhe, etc ...). Thereafter he composed and arranged for them hundred of songs, marches and jingles for concerts and recordings. Fayha Choir performed Dr. Torikian’s works so well that they were sounded by various choirs in the world like Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, France, USA, England, and Turkey...