Après TFS - Armen Bazarian '05
Meet Armen Bazarian ’05. In our newest Après TFS spotlight, he details his path from his highschool band, Chester, to becoming a go-to Music Composer and Sound Designer.
TFS: Please describe the path you took after TFS.
ARMEN BAZARIAN: After graduating from TFS, I went to McGill for my undergraduate degree in psychology, followed by a master’s at the University of Toronto in developmental psychology. All throughout my schooling, I was always making music and I loved it. It was something I could never really let go of. When I finished my master’s, I decided to give music a real shot, even though it felt a bit cliché at the time, and shifted my career path.
I had already built a solid foundation in music production and software, and around 2012, I began working professionally in the music industry. It’s been about a decade now, and I’ve worked in a variety of roles. Today, I work as a sound designer and music producer across film, television, advertising and podcasts. I write music, do sound design and handle more technical work like mixing, mastering and audio cleanup. It’s a pretty broad spectrum of sound‑related work, which keeps things interesting.
At TFS, I played in the band and also had my own group outside of school called Chester. We were playing shows around the city, bringing our friends along. It was the very beginning of that rock‑star narrative. There were a few teachers at TFS who were especially supportive of my creative side. Mr. Doughty, my drama teacher, was incredibly encouraging. And Mme Crète, who was actually my math teacher, recognized that I had a sensitive, creative side. I still remember a parent‑teacher meeting where she told my parents that I had a real creative spirit and that it should be encouraged. That stuck with me.
TFS: What does a typical day look like for you?
ARMEN BAZARIAN: I work from home and have a studio in my loft. I’m working freelance and fairly busy, so I try to keep a nine‑to‑five rhythm. I wake up at a reasonable hour, do my light therapy and usually read in the morning. I like easing into the day. By nine, I’m typically working on a variety of projects. My main ongoing gig right now is a podcast called Search Engine, based out of New York, and I take on other projects as they come. Some days I’m mixing a record, other days I’m focused entirely on the podcast; it really depends.
TFS: What gives you the most satisfaction in your work?
ARMEN BAZARIAN: Definitely, the fact that I get to be creative in so many different ways. I’ve chosen my own path, and that gives me a lot of flexibility, which I highly value. I can work from anywhere and shape my schedule around my life, not the other way around. I have sacrificed a certain level of comfort and security that can come with a more traditional job, but in exchange, I’ve gained a more exploratory and creative career. That balance works well for me.
TFS: How did your experience at TFS help you get to where you are now?
ARMEN BAZARIAN: The TFS community really shaped me. It’s small and tight‑knit – there were about 50 students in my graduating class and that sense of community stays with you. Coming out of TFS, having experienced that environment, influences the kinds of people and communities you seek out later in life.
TFS: How has French language and bilingualism impacted your career?
ARMEN BAZARIAN: Learning French is not something that should be taken for granted. Having a bilingual education has opened up little doors here and there in my life that I wouldn't have expected. Even when traveling outside of Francophone countries, having French makes it easier to connect with people, especially in Europe. I've just found that it's broadened the connections I've been able to have with people. It’s no surprise that I live in Montreal, which is a city I love and I don’t think I could have made this life a reality without speaking French. You can get by without it, but some people who don't speak French have described Montreal as a place where you have to swim against the current. For me, even though I don't use my French all the time, I feel really at home here and I feel like I have access to everything this city has to offer.
TFS: What skills or lessons from TFS do you find yourself applying most often in your work?
ARMEN BAZARIAN: It sounds funny, but TFS taught me that it’s okay to be myself – a playful class clown. It’s a serious school that values discipline, but there’s also a light‑hearted side that people don’t always see. While I was sometimes reprimanded for joking around, I think teachers also recognized “hey, this kid’s kind of funny,” and never tried to stifle me. That made TFS a very safe space for me. It was a place where you could push boundaries within reason, and that helped me become more comfortable with who I am. That confidence has stayed with me and continues to shape how I work today.
TFS: What was your most memorable experience at TFS?
ARMEN BAZARIAN: I would say spending time with friends after school. Roaming the halls, talking about life, teachers, relationships. It was just a really good backdrop for those moments. That time with friends stands out the most.
TFS: What advice would you give to current students?
ARMEN BAZARIAN: At school, it often feels like the stakes are incredibly high, especially as you get closer to university. There’s a lot of pressure around performance and getting into the “right” school, and it can feel like everything has to line up perfectly. But the truth is, the stakes are much lower than they seem. There’s far more flexibility than you’re led to believe. If you don’t get into your first‑choice program, you can often transfer or try again the following year. There’s a lot of time ahead of you.
I come from a family that was very adamant on the academic path, and taking time off between school stages wasn’t really encouraged. Looking back, I realize that taking time, whether between high school and university or between degrees, isn’t something to be afraid of. You don’t lose anything by stepping off the prescribed, sometimes cookie‑cutter path. There’s more freedom to play around than you might realize.
TFS: What do you wish you had known while at TFS that could have better prepared you for life after graduation?
ARMEN BAZARIAN: I will say TFS is a small community and can feel like a bit of a bubble. When I arrived at McGill, the size of it was an adjustment. It's a big jump from being a big fish in a small pond to being a small fish in a very big pond. I think it helps to hold onto everything TFS offers while also pushing yourself beyond its walls. Volunteering, joining activities and engaging with communities outside of school can give you a broader perspective and make that transition easier.
I would also say be open to the people around you. The friends I met throughout school shaped my professional path and introduced me to people who gave me my first opportunities in the music industry. I even had the chance to work with some really cool artists because of connections I built through a Toronto studio. In the end, it’s really about the people you meet along the way.
Back
ARMEN BAZARIAN: After graduating from TFS, I went to McGill for my undergraduate degree in psychology, followed by a master’s at the University of Toronto in developmental psychology. All throughout my schooling, I was always making music and I loved it. It was something I could never really let go of. When I finished my master’s, I decided to give music a real shot, even though it felt a bit cliché at the time, and shifted my career path.
I had already built a solid foundation in music production and software, and around 2012, I began working professionally in the music industry. It’s been about a decade now, and I’ve worked in a variety of roles. Today, I work as a sound designer and music producer across film, television, advertising and podcasts. I write music, do sound design and handle more technical work like mixing, mastering and audio cleanup. It’s a pretty broad spectrum of sound‑related work, which keeps things interesting.
At TFS, I played in the band and also had my own group outside of school called Chester. We were playing shows around the city, bringing our friends along. It was the very beginning of that rock‑star narrative. There were a few teachers at TFS who were especially supportive of my creative side. Mr. Doughty, my drama teacher, was incredibly encouraging. And Mme Crète, who was actually my math teacher, recognized that I had a sensitive, creative side. I still remember a parent‑teacher meeting where she told my parents that I had a real creative spirit and that it should be encouraged. That stuck with me.
TFS: What does a typical day look like for you?
ARMEN BAZARIAN: I work from home and have a studio in my loft. I’m working freelance and fairly busy, so I try to keep a nine‑to‑five rhythm. I wake up at a reasonable hour, do my light therapy and usually read in the morning. I like easing into the day. By nine, I’m typically working on a variety of projects. My main ongoing gig right now is a podcast called Search Engine, based out of New York, and I take on other projects as they come. Some days I’m mixing a record, other days I’m focused entirely on the podcast; it really depends.
TFS: What gives you the most satisfaction in your work?
ARMEN BAZARIAN: Definitely, the fact that I get to be creative in so many different ways. I’ve chosen my own path, and that gives me a lot of flexibility, which I highly value. I can work from anywhere and shape my schedule around my life, not the other way around. I have sacrificed a certain level of comfort and security that can come with a more traditional job, but in exchange, I’ve gained a more exploratory and creative career. That balance works well for me.
TFS: How did your experience at TFS help you get to where you are now?
ARMEN BAZARIAN: The TFS community really shaped me. It’s small and tight‑knit – there were about 50 students in my graduating class and that sense of community stays with you. Coming out of TFS, having experienced that environment, influences the kinds of people and communities you seek out later in life.
TFS: How has French language and bilingualism impacted your career?
ARMEN BAZARIAN: Learning French is not something that should be taken for granted. Having a bilingual education has opened up little doors here and there in my life that I wouldn't have expected. Even when traveling outside of Francophone countries, having French makes it easier to connect with people, especially in Europe. I've just found that it's broadened the connections I've been able to have with people. It’s no surprise that I live in Montreal, which is a city I love and I don’t think I could have made this life a reality without speaking French. You can get by without it, but some people who don't speak French have described Montreal as a place where you have to swim against the current. For me, even though I don't use my French all the time, I feel really at home here and I feel like I have access to everything this city has to offer.
TFS: What skills or lessons from TFS do you find yourself applying most often in your work?
ARMEN BAZARIAN: It sounds funny, but TFS taught me that it’s okay to be myself – a playful class clown. It’s a serious school that values discipline, but there’s also a light‑hearted side that people don’t always see. While I was sometimes reprimanded for joking around, I think teachers also recognized “hey, this kid’s kind of funny,” and never tried to stifle me. That made TFS a very safe space for me. It was a place where you could push boundaries within reason, and that helped me become more comfortable with who I am. That confidence has stayed with me and continues to shape how I work today.
TFS: What was your most memorable experience at TFS?
ARMEN BAZARIAN: I would say spending time with friends after school. Roaming the halls, talking about life, teachers, relationships. It was just a really good backdrop for those moments. That time with friends stands out the most.
TFS: What advice would you give to current students?
ARMEN BAZARIAN: At school, it often feels like the stakes are incredibly high, especially as you get closer to university. There’s a lot of pressure around performance and getting into the “right” school, and it can feel like everything has to line up perfectly. But the truth is, the stakes are much lower than they seem. There’s far more flexibility than you’re led to believe. If you don’t get into your first‑choice program, you can often transfer or try again the following year. There’s a lot of time ahead of you.
I come from a family that was very adamant on the academic path, and taking time off between school stages wasn’t really encouraged. Looking back, I realize that taking time, whether between high school and university or between degrees, isn’t something to be afraid of. You don’t lose anything by stepping off the prescribed, sometimes cookie‑cutter path. There’s more freedom to play around than you might realize.
TFS: What do you wish you had known while at TFS that could have better prepared you for life after graduation?
ARMEN BAZARIAN: I will say TFS is a small community and can feel like a bit of a bubble. When I arrived at McGill, the size of it was an adjustment. It's a big jump from being a big fish in a small pond to being a small fish in a very big pond. I think it helps to hold onto everything TFS offers while also pushing yourself beyond its walls. Volunteering, joining activities and engaging with communities outside of school can give you a broader perspective and make that transition easier.
I would also say be open to the people around you. The friends I met throughout school shaped my professional path and introduced me to people who gave me my first opportunities in the music industry. I even had the chance to work with some really cool artists because of connections I built through a Toronto studio. In the end, it’s really about the people you meet along the way.
