Excerpted from OCDA President-Elect, Dara Gillis' nomination letter.

Dr. Jarjisian has been a lifelong mentor and friend to so many in the choral field. His significant contributions to OCDA include service as President from 1995-97 and later as church and community R&R. His work as Director of Choral Activities at Ohio University from 1984-2015 left an indelible mark on the music programs and more importantly the students of Ohio University. Having recently moved to the Chicago area, Peter continues to share his love of singing with his new congregation at Grace United Methodist Church in Naperville, Ill. Although no longer a resident of Ohio, Peter's role as mentor and guide to his former students continues. Peter participates in as many OCDA and ACDA activities as possible, returning to Ohio each summer for the summer conference and most recently to Cincinnati for the National Conference. He views his participation in these events as an important part of his ongoing growth as a musician and as the embodiment of his commitment to mentoring, guiding and modeling for
others.

Upon his retirement from OU, Peter programmed for his final concert J.S. Bach's Mass in B Minor. He invited alumni of the choral ensembles to participate in the performance. Students traveled from all over the United States to sing the work with their beloved teacher and friend. Before the conclusion of the final dress rehearsal, Peter invited the campus's male pop a cappella group, Section 8, to sing an arrangement of Ray Lamontagne's "You Are the Best Thing" for the choruses assembled on stage. Peter introduced the piece by saying that this is the message he wished to leave with his students; they are the best thing that ever happened to him. As Section 8 sang, Peter made eye contact with almost every one of the 100+ singers standing before him. While a challenging thing to convey in words, it was one of the most moving performances many of us had ever witnessed and is the perfect example of Peter's connection to people through music. Peter will frequently share a book, an article, a recording, a television program, or a movie with those he loves, usually beginning his communications with "I saw this and thought of you..." He is the personification of service as he views the work of a teacher and mentor is never finished. There is always more to learn, more to share and more to give.