Ziya Tabassian was born in 1979. He started playing the Tonbak at the age of eleven. He began his formal training in Iran, eventually pursuing on his own with the help of Master Teherani's method. He studied classical percussion with Julien Grégoire in Montreal, since 1994. Tabassian graduated from University of Montreal in percussion interpretation.

Ziya has performed in several classical and modern ensembles. He is one of the founder of the musical ensemble Constantinople ( Middle Age and Renaissance music). He has toured and worked with a wide range of artists such as master Mohammad Reza Lotfi, Keyhan Kalhor, and Kyriakos Kalatzides.

Zia has performed in Canada, U.S.A., Greece, World Music Institute (New York), Yerba Buena Center (San Francisco), Megaro Musiki (Athènes), and Chicago's World Music Festival. Tabassian is the recipient of the grant from the Quebec Art Consul for studying tonbak.

His CD releases include "The Garden of Memory" with his brother Kiya Tabassian. He has recorded for Kronos Quartet, Constantinople, and NEM et En Chordais. Tabassian currently lives in Montreal, where he teaches percussion.