BELLY DANCERS, THE OUD AND SINGING IN 11 LANGUAGES
John Bilezikjian is one of Mission Viejo's finest musicians, and you've probably never heard of him. This musical businessman is just as comfortable playing the oud behind a group of belly dancers as he was performing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
By Dee Dee McNeil | January 5, 2011
John Bilezikjian once played for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, but now you're more likely to see him thrilling crowds with the help of a belly dancer. He is a prominent oudist living in Mission Viejo.
Unlike the guitar, an oud has no fretted neck. It's a Persian instrument shaped like a teardrop. Surprisingly, its 11 strings are lighter to the touch than those of a modern classical guitar. Originally known as an 'ud' in Persia, "oud" is actually another word for lute or stringed instrument. John strums his with an eagle's quill.
John has given command performances for the king and queen of Spain and performed for the widow of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. He told me about that.
"I performed for Mrs. Anwar Sadat 25 years ago in Beverly Hills for a reception that was held in her honor," John said. "I entertained on the oud and sang music from all over the world. The reception was hosted by a very interesting group of people who are called Sephardic Jews. These are Jewish people who were from Spain, and in 1492 they were told to convert to Christianity or be exiled from their country by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. They chose to leave Spain and keep their culture and religion. Their language is called Ladino, which is one of the languages that I sing in. I sing in 11 languages."
The oldest, documented picture of an oud dates back to southern Mesopotamia more than 5,000 years ago. Displayed at the British Museum, it's depicted on a clay tablet and shows the image of a woman aboard a boat playing this unique instrument.
If you visited John's Mission Viejo home, you could see an oud up close and personal, along with a number of other unique instruments that he collects.
"The instruments that I perform on my CDs other than the oud, are violin, viola, bass, keyboard, harpsichord, dumbeg, daf, bender, tambourine, zills, saz, divan saz, mandolin, balalaika and bouzouki," he said. "I have given concerts at several local elementary, high school and college-level schools. I teach music privately at my home, where I have an office. I teach all of the instruments I have mentioned above, as well as music theory and arranging."
John has added his spicy Middle Eastern sounds to more than 80 Hollywood films. He says his style of performing on the oud is unlike that of anyone else in the world.
"I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I lived in the San Fernando Valley and received a full music scholarship to San Fernando Valley State College, now called CSUN (California State University Northridge). I was first violinist in both the symphony orchestra of the college, as well as the opera orchestra. My wife and I moved to Mission Viejo in 1975. Music is my life. I practice daily for several hours and perform in the evenings at venues from the San Fernando Valley to San Diego.
"I got involved with the oud from listening to the sound of this instrument on old 78 recordings belonging to my family who came from central Turkey and settled in America. I was the firstborn and fell in love with the music of my grandfather and parents. Both my parents were musicians. My father, Andrew Bilezikjian, taught me the violin, and my mother, Alice Bilezikjian, sang the folk songs of our people to me: Armenian and Middle Eastern songs. I would ask my mother about these songs. Instead of just listening to her sing, I would write down the music and the words for nearly 50 years of my life.
"I still study serious classical violin, but when I heard [the oud], it is as if nothing else mattered to me. I had to put my energy on this instrument and learn this music and its wonderful folklore. Yes, I listened to Jascha Heifetz and Leonid Kogan, the greatest violinists ever, as well as the music of my ancestors."
An entrepreneur, John Bilezikjian owns and operates a record company to promote and sell his records. He has recorded more than 25 CDs that are for sale via his website. On many of them he plays a several instruments.
This musical businessman is just as comfortable playing the oud behind a group of belly dancers as he was performing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the baton of maestro Zubin Mehta. (You can hear some of his performances here.)
John has also performed with the Los Angeles Mandolin Orchestra and the Pacific Palisades Symphony, with maestro Joel Lish conducting. In 2005, he joined the Boston Pops Orchestra as featured soloist to debut the oud on the Boston Pops stage. This dynamic oud player appeared in California with the Pasadena Pops Orchestra under the direction of conductor Rachael Worby.
Not merely an oudist, John lives as a singer, composer, entrepreneur and consummate entertainer. In his life, music matters as he moves smoothly from the classical stages to more commercial aspects of artistic excellence. Check him out in this video clip, accompanying a group of belly dancers in Long Beach.

DeeDee McNeil
January 2011

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