Arin Sarkissian, originally from Los Angeles, California, is the Principal Flutist of the Victoria Symphony. 

Most recently, Arin was named the 2022 Michael Measures 2nd Prize recipient by the Canada Council for the Arts. In the summer of 2022, he made guest artist appearances at Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal’s La Virée Classique, appeared in orchestral and chamber performances at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre, and performed alongside the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. Prior engagements include summers at the Music Academy of the West, New York String Orchestra Seminar, Orford Summer Music Academy, National Symphony Orchestra Summer Music Institute, and Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra of the United States.

In 2022, Arin was named a Yamaha Young Artist Performance Competition Winner and won 1st Place at the Nancy Clew Eller, Music Teachers National Association, San Diego Flute Guild, and Naftzger Young Artist competitions. Other awards include 1st Prize and Stingray Audience Choice at the 2020 Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal Concours, 3rd Prize in the 2020 National Flute Association Young Artist Competition, 1st Prize in the 2020 Young Texas Artists Music Competition, and 1st Prize in the 2019 Mika Hasler Young Artist Competition. 

Arin graduated from Rice University with a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance with Distinction in Research and Creative Works, studying under the professorship of Leone Buyse. He also studied with Jim Walker at The Colburn School. Arin performs on a Haynes Custom flute and works with Cynthia Kelley as his primary instrument technician. His previous mentors are Lilit Hovhannisyan and Christina Yoo, and he looks forward to sharing the gift of music with the world. Also, he likes puppies.