John Bilezikjian is "America's Oud Virtuoso". Mr. Bilezikjian may be the most prominent Oudist of his generation. He is a master Oudist who has elevated this instrument to the concert stage as well as continuing to perform as a folk musician. He has performed for more than 46 years on this ancient, eleven-stringed, fretless Persian instrument which dates back some 2,000 years. The Oud is performed with an eagle's quill.

 

Mr. Bilezikjian has given command performances for the King and Queen of Spain and for Mrs. Anwar Sadat of Egypt to name only a few. He has filmed and recorded background music for over 50 TV and film soundtracks in Hollywood, California.
 

Mr. Bilezikjian has appeared with The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Zubin Mehta, as well as The Los Angeles Mandolin Orchestra and The Pacific Palisades Symphony with Maestro Joel Lish conducting. He debuted in June of 2005 at Symphony Hall in Boston with the venerable Boston Pops Orchestra as featured soloist, marking the first time the Oud was heard in a solo capacity with the Boston Pops Orchestra on it's stage. John Bilezikjian has also appeared as a Bouzouki soloist with The Pasadena Pops Orchestra, Rachael Worby conducting. Mr. Bilezikjian's music can be heard on countless documentaries and HBO trailers as well and in the Warner Bros. movie "Must Love Dogs" and "Mirror Wars", a film about Russian espionage and America.