Aprahamian, Maia - Ave Maria

Maia Aprahamian was born in NYC on Jan. 8, 1935. She graduated from the Manhattan School of Music with a masters in composition. She became a member of the Orthodox Church in 2001 after moving to CA. She is a composer of opera, ballet, choral and instrumental works, and was Composer-in-Residence for the SF Choral Artists in 2005. A large work, Emergence, was presented for the 50th anniversary of the UN in San Francisco. She has composed music for the Orthodox Church services. Her Trisagion and Cherubic Hymn were sung at the Psalm conference in Chicago in 2006, and Zachariah’s Prophecy is published in the new Liturgy book from St Vladimir’s Seminary. She has completed an opera based on the Tolstoy story, The Three Holy Hermits, incorporating thematic material from the Orthodox services. Another opera, The Treatment Room, is for six singers as multiple characters, and chronicles the lives of four patients over two days in a chemo ward. Her most recent opera is based on the book, Burt Dow, Deep-Water Man, by Robert McCloskey, commissioned by the Opera House Arts in Stonington, ME.

Maia Aprahamian Was born in New York on 1/8/1935. She passed away peacefully on May 31, 2011 in Marin County, Calif. She left this life the same way she lived it-independently and on her own terms! Much loved, admired, and already missed, she is survived by her daughter Allegra; her son Xander and daughter-in-law Alison; her daughter-in-law Chris; her 5 grandchildren Luke, Kira, Alistair, Mikayla, and Keegan; her brother Bill and sister-in-law Barbara; her sister Susan and brother-in-law David; her nieces and nephews Laura & Tom, Fife & Heather, Eric & Nancy, and Kristen; and many many friends. Maia is now happily reunited with her son Eben, her daughter-in-law Janet, her parents, and her aunt May and Uncle Francis, among others.

Maia was a talented composer, and she shared her musical abilities with scores of people throughout her lifetime. She wrote musicals with children (before they knew they weren't supposed to be able to do that), commissioned works for a wide variety of places/events/people, music for family members and friends for all types of special occasions, and most recently orthodox-based music for her church.
While growing up we watched her orchestrate full symphonies in her head, while sitting on her bed, and then carefully write down each of the parts on manuscript paper.
Maia loved to spend time with friends, play scrabble, and do crossword puzzles. She was equally content to sit in the quiet and contemplate whatever was on her mind. She had a great sense of humor, and passed along to her children her love of word play. Maia came into the world with love expressed through music, and left in the same way. She will be sorely missed. A Panahida will be Friday, June 10, 2011, 7PM at Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church 102 Ross Avenue in San Anselmo. Funeral service is Saturday 9:30AM at Saint Nicholas Church. Burial will take place in Manton, CA. Monte's Chapel Of The Hills San Anselmo (415)453-8440 Published in San Francisco Chronicle on June 8, 2011