Ara Carapetyan

Ara Carapetyan, husband, father, grand and great grandfather, mentor, second father, choral director, singer, lover of food, wine and whiskey, a person of kind and generous spirit, has died.

1929. Born March 24, family farm in Wisconsin; died peacefully October 25, 2023 in Austin, Texas, in his sleep, beside his wife Becky. He was 94. And deeply loved. And cherished. And already terribly missed.

Ara grew up in New York City but his roots were equally set in the Wisconsin farmland of his mother's family, and his father's Armenian upbringing in Persia. This great, wide personal history created in his life both an earthy nature and a profoundly mystical sense. Ara loved both the life of the world and the life of the spirit in equal measure.

1953. University of Minnesota. Ara met a flaming redhead of dazzling intelligence and wit. He knew at once; she was less certain. On a date in which he stopped to help a motorist, stranded over a railroad crossing, Cherrie knew he was the man she could marry. It was a whirlwind six-month courtship and the marriage was no less energetic, all fifty-six years of it, ending upon her death.

Even before married life Ara was a seeker. He was also globally gifted-good at everything he attempted (except the keyboard). He studied Spanish for a journalism career in South America (never happened). In Japan he hosted the classical music show for Armed Forces Radio. He managed the Chattanooga Symphony. He sold appliances and stereos. He was a studio sound engineer. He tried everything to avoid his true gift: choral music. He wished not to be like his father.

1974. At age 45, with Cherrie's support, Ara returned to university to pursue his Doctor of Musical Arts degree. On the date of his 50th birthday he began his full time music career, lasting forty-one years, two months and one week. Music was his gift. Music in the service of God's Love was his great calling and purpose. And in those years he did his best, most beautiful work, never accepting praise, always giving credit to God. And to his father. They became the best of friends.

1980s. In their spare time Cherrie and Ara established the Houston Oratorio Society, fulfilling Ara's lifelong dream of a large community chorus performing the great works he loved so much. Eventually becoming the Houston Masterworks Chorus, it's still a major cultural institution.

Ara spent his last thirteen years-loving and happy ones-married to Becky Pigott. They traveled, they made friends, they marveled that they never ran out of things to talk and laugh about. They gave a lecture at the senior center preceding each Austin Symphony Orchestra concert. She explained the history of the composer, he explored the music, what he loved about it and how to listen.

2020. "This is the best music I've made," Ara said of his final seventeen years at University Presbyterian Church. "The most talented boss and the most right minded community I ever could have hoped for." It was his last job, from which he retired top of his game, age 91.

If you knew Ara on the podium you saw him call forth music few knew they had in them. If you questioned your life you may have found answers, just talking with him. If you had a dream, he may have furthered you along. If you were in the Lord's service you found in Ara a profound devotion to God. If you were inside the 1980s voice mail at 1st Presbyterian Church, you were certain you just heard the Voice of God.

If you caused Ara to throw back his head in that magnificent laugh, or if you got an audience with him-just two or maybe four of you-you marveled at this vibrant, humble man. His was a beautiful command of language-fluid, articulate and old fashioned.

He was an imp and a sweet heart. He was a giant, and so very human. He had perfect pitch. He could hush one hundred voices with an eyebrow and three fingers. He could never hush the riot of five children at table.

And that voice. Who can ever forget that voice?

Ara was curious to the end, ever a student of life. He read periodicals and entire books until his last weeks. "I enjoy the challenges of daily living," he said this summer, understated to the last.

Ara is survived by our dear Becky, his brother Leon, all five kids and a stepson, twelve grandkids and fourteen greats, for now. And you-who loved him, helped him, worshipped with him, sang for him, laughed and cried with him.

A Service of Witness to the Resurrection to give thanks for the life of Ara Carapetyan will be held at University Presbyterian Church on November 16, 2023 at 2pm. Followed by a reception at the church, located at 2203 San Antonio Street, Austin Texas 78705.

If you would like to make a donation in Ara's memory, the organizations he and Becky supported include: University Presbyterian Church, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, the SAFE Alliance, Austin Symphony Orchestra.