World-renowned musician and Civilitas board-member, Serj Tankian, is making his debut solo performance in Armenia. The Armenian American lead singer of the Grammy-award winning rock band System of a Down will perform in Yerevan in August 12.  
In addition to having a musical career, Tankian is a political and social activist. He is a major advocate of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and through his lobbying initiatives, the issue has been raised from concert halls to the US political arena. Tankian co-founded Axis of Justice with Tom Morello, the Grammy-award winning American guitarist and member of Rage Against the Machine. Axis of Justice is a non-profit organization which brings together musicians, their fans, and political activists and organizations to fight for social justice together. Tankian is also an active animal rights supporter, supporting a PETA petition in 2009 against the slaughtering methods of chickens in KFC slaughterhouses.  

Tankian has released five albums with System of a Down and one solo album entitled Elect the Dead. Tankian collaborated with the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra to record a live orchestral version of his solo album entitled Elect the Dead Symphony. He is currently working on his second solo album, Imperfect Harmonies.