Jon Shabaglian: From Artist to Psalmist

Singer-songwriter Jon Shabaglian's faith and artistic philosophy guide his purpose. Jon Shabaglian

In October 2024, California musician Jon Shabaglian debuted a live rendition of his latest single, “Adonai (Deliverance Song),” at a special, 15-day event in Israel. The anthemic track’s core message is one of healing. It also represents years of hard work for the artist, who strives to use his talents to build others up and help communities around the world.

His faith and artistic philosophy guide his purpose. In Shabaglian’s own words, he loves helping people realize their value, “One life at a time.”

A Chance Encounter Inspires a Song

Over a decade ago, a chance encounter put Shabaglian’s life purpose on a trajectory he never could have imagined. While attending a conference in Franklin, Tennesse, a popular, small community near Nashville, he met a violist who introduced himself as Orhan. Their auspicious meeting would have international impact, all thanks to their faith and creativity.

After the conference, he went home artistically inspired. While some people are keen on journaling when they need to get their feelings down on paper, Shabaglian’s thoughts usually come out in lyric form. He sent the song to his new friend, Orhan. Shabaglian named it “Reconciliation Song,” with a message of unity and peace running through its words.

Shabaglian later learned that the full name of his new friend was Orhan Celebi, who is a world- renowned Turkish violist. After he sent Celebi an early version of “Reconciliation Song,” the viola player teamed up with him on the single and provided strings work.

Little did Shabaglian know at the time, that their friendship and his newly written song, would become a part of a healing moment in Istanbul, Turkey—continents away from where it started in the United States.

Music From the Soul

Shabaglian embarked on his musical journey to help people, “one life at a time.” Jon Shabaglian

After writing “Reconciliation Song,” Shabaglian set it aside for awhile and worked on other music. He also dedicated himself to his non-profit organization, Psalmist Mission.

During an interview with The Epoch Times, he chatted about what the mission’s focus is all about:

“We mentor and train musicians to be professional musicians, but also have God’s heart for a hurting world. You’re … diligent with your scales, but also diligent with how … you invest into your … world with God’s heart.”

For Shabaglian, Psalmist Mission is an extension of his intentions with his own music: “I’m trying to … be not just an artist, but … a psalmist, a musician with God’s heart in it.”

Keeping his work centered on faith involves a commitment to his musical talents, which Shabaglian believes are God-given. He also believes in the restorative power of music because, to him, “music is like the Neosporin of the soul.” He featured Psalmist Mission vocalists in the recording and video for “Adonai (Deliverance Song).” Adonai is a Hebrew word meaning “God.”

His work at Psalmist Mission and his originals are ways to connect with people on both a physical level and a spiritual level. He loves learning about each person’s individual story:

“Everybody is uniquely made. Everybody has something special that God put inside of them. ... We should look at each other and be like, ‘Wow, you carry amazing value.’”

While his Psalmist Mission musicians often connect with others through music, they also spend their time helping their communities throughout California, where they’re based, and beyond.

A Surprising Opportunity

Shabaglian will never forget a meeting he had with his mentor, Mark Thompson, in 2014. As the two ordered burritos at their meetup spot, Thompson shared with him an event happening the following year in Istanbul. It was going to be a historic event marking the 100-year anniversary of the Armenian genocide carried out by the Turkish Ottoman Empire in 1915. The event not only recognized the stark reality of the two cultures’ shared history, but it became an opportunity for talk of peace and unity.

For Shabaglian, who is of Armenian descent, the event was quite personal. His grandparents had been rescued by Mennonite missionaries during the genocide, which took place during World War I. In 1915, though Turkey’s population was mostly Muslim, there were 2 million Armenian Christians estimated to be living there. By 1918, a million Christian Armenians had been killed and hundreds of thousands were displaced from their homes due to their religion and ethnicity. Some of Shabaglian’s family survived, some did not.

Thompson said the event needed a musician who was also a worship leader, and he thought Shabaglian would be perfect for the position. With his personal connection to the event and its history in mind, he agreed to take part. And he had the perfect song to bring with him.

Reconciliation Event

Cover for Jon Shabaglian's 2015 single "Reconciliation Song" featuring Orhan Celebi. Jon Shabaglian

In 2015, his work took him far away from the Golden State to the Asian region of Istanbul, which is located in the eastern part of the city. That’s where another meeting with Celebi happened. It’s also where they witnessed the unifying power of music as they unveiled Shabaglian’s composition, “Reconciliation Song,” at an event steeped in adverse cultural history.

When Shabaglian met up with Celebi in Istanbul, it was only their second meeting in person. As the gathering wrapped up after three days of talks and activities, Shabaglian debuted their song. Given his Armenian background and Celebi’s Turkish lineage, their collaboration was that much more special given the event’s circumstances.

The live performance of their song was eventually featured during the conclusion of the documentary, “Journey to Redemption.”

As the reconciliation event of 2015 concluded, Shabaglian had no idea his work abroad was far from being complete.

Being a Light for Others

Cover for Jon Shabaglian's 2023s single "Symphony of Peace" featuring educator and activist Temitope. Jon Shabaglian

From 2022 to 2023, Shabaglian worked hard on releasing another bridge-building song, “Symphony of Peace.” According to the single’s press release, it’s a “soaring anthem encouraging listeners to be instruments of reconciliation in a divided world.”

Soon, he received another call. This time, he was asked to fly to Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, in October 2024 to perform “Adonai (Deliverance Song)” to an audience at the All Nations Convocation. Attended by people from across the world, the event marked days of prayer, peace, and unity. It also marked the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

When asked what his initial response was when offered the opportunity to share his music at the event, he told The Epoch Times, “How do I even get summoned for such a task?”

As he grappled with the reality of the situation—with Israel being attacked only a year before and his being asked to perform at an event centered around prayer and unity—he remembered why he accepted his musical journey in the first place. It’s not about social media updates or boasting about personal successes, it’s about being a light for others during some of their darkest days. Because he’s experienced darkness himself, he wants his music to be a source for healing.

For Shabaglian, that mindset can take a musician “from [being] an artist who’s insecure to a musician who was handed something by God and entrusted to steward it for the world’s betterment. All of a sudden, that’s why we go from artist to psalmist, and to me it’s … artistry.”

Shabaglian spent two weeks in Israel, dealing with an illness, canceled flights, and battle-scarred territory in order to share his composition and connect with those whose lives had been drastically changed the year before.

Cover for Jon Shabaglian's 2024 single "Adonai (deliverance song)" featuring the Psalmist Mission. According to the song's lyrics, "His [God's] love breaks every chain." Jon Shabaglian

Growing Every Day

As Shabaglian continues to write music and cultivate Psalmist Mission, he points out the fact that even though he’s stepped into a leadership role, he continues to grow everyday:

“I feel like I’ve been pulled into things because of greater purposes. And as they’ve been happening, I’ve been learning.”

As he expands his nonprofit’s community outreach, mentors budding musicians, and pens new singles, he keeps his heart centered on spirituality and his ultimate goal. Music is his “fuel,” and his goal takes him back to the beginning. He started this journey so he could help people, “One life at a time.”

He explained, “it is about being faithful with the life and the heartbeat you’re given.”

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