MUSICAL ARMENIA PRESENTS

TALENTED ARTISTS

NEW YORK, NY—It is an event that is greatly anticipated in the New York, New Jersey Armenian community – Musical Armenia.  And this year marked its 27th concert at Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, on Sunday afternoon, March 21.  Under the auspices of  Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, it was again presented by the Prelacy Ladies Guild.

The event featured two talented performers, pianist Tanya Gabrielian, and soprano Natalie Aroyan, with piano accompanist Lucy Arner, who presented a program of demanding compositions. The fact that Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia has designated 2010 the year of the Armenian woman was accentuated in the presentation of two female artists.

Tanya Gabrielian who played with confidence, included both classical as well as Armenian composers in her performance. Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Aria variata alla maniera italiana in A-minor” is a work of several variations based on the theme’s harmonic structure, demanding flawless technique.

This was followed by Aram Khachaturian’s rhapsodic “Poeme”, replete with interesting rhythms and harmony.  It expresses the composer’s intense feelings concerning the tragic history of the Armenian people, but concludes in a major tonality reflecting hopes for a brighter future.

Tigran Mansurian’s “Piano sonata No. 1” was a surprising and very

Lucy Arner, Tanya Gabrielian, and Natalie Aroyan hold the Musical Armenia poster at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall.

A reception at the Prelacy offices followed the performance. In this photo, left to right, Bishop Anoushavan, Vicar; Sophie Khachatryan and Lucy Ishkanian, committee members;  Archbishop Oshagan, Prelate; and the performers,  Natalie Aroyan and Tanya Gabrielian.

avant-garde presentation, and probably would have been better accepted by listeners attuned to contemporary works.  However, it took courage to perform this almost atonal work to a traditional audience.

Concluding her program, Gabrielian played Frederic Chopin’s well known lyrical “Ballade No. 1 in G-minor”, a melodic masterpiece which incorporates musical ideas from both the sonata and variation modes.  It is a composition on many a pianist’s repertoire.

MUCH LOVED SONGS BY GOMIDAS
Gomidas Vartabed’s beloved songs were a major part of Natalie Aroyan’s performance.  “Karoon eh” (It is spring), “Chinar ess” (You are like a poplar tree), “Shogher jan (Dear Shogher), and the soul-searing and heartfelt “Groong” (The Crane) brought the audience to enthusiastic applause. 

Aroyan, demonstrating her versatility, also presented arias from several operas and song cycles, including Francesco Cileas’ “Adriana Lecouvreur”, Giacomo Puccini’s “La boheme”, Bedrich Smetana’s “The Bartered Bride”, Jules Massenet’s “Herodiade”, and a song of longing by Sergei Rachmaninov.  As an encore, she sang the heartfelt “Ay Vart”.  Accompanying Aroyan was Lucy Arner who never overpowered the singer, and played with singular virtuosity.

At the conclusion of the performance, the promising artists who were presented with a bouquet of flowers by the Musical Armenia committee, were given a standing ovation by the grateful audience.

At the Armenian Prelacy where a sumptuous reception had been prepared by the Prelacy Ladies Guild, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan congratulated the artists, and expressed warm wishes for their future success. “We hope to see you on the international concert stages and at the Metropolitan Opera,” he stated.

Tanya Gabrielian, who was born in the United States, has performed in concert halls in North America, Europe and Asia, and has already garnered some coveted awards in her career, including first prizes at the 2004 Scottish International Piano Competition, and the 2003 Aram Khachaturian International Piano Competition in Yerevan.  She also won the 2008 Pro Musica International Award in New York City. 

Natalie Aroyan, born in Australia, has sung in concert halls internationally.  She was the First Place recipient of the 2008 Herald Sun Aria Competition where she won a scholarship.  She also won First Place at the 49th Meistersinger Competition, as well as at The Opera Foundation Lady Fairfax New York Competition, and was awarded a prize at the 2008 International Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv.  Currently, she is studying on a full scholarship at Mannes College The New School for Music in New York City.

Lucy Arner, who is an internationally acclaimed conductor, has performed at some of the world’s most renowned opera houses, including New York’s Metropolitan Opera, and the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Spain.  As a pianist, she has concertized with many notable singers, and has taught master classes in the United States, Europe and Asia.   She is currently on the faculty of Mannes College The New School for Music, and teaches privately.

The members of the Musical Armenia Committee who worked tirelessly on this event include Lucy Ishkanian, Julie Kedersha, Sophie Khachatryan, Varsenne Sarkissian, and Levon Tatevossian.

Members of the Prelacy Ladies Guild are Seda Andrikian, Sima Artinoff, Marion Boudakian, Linda Chirinian, Amy Gostanian, Lilian Hairabedian, Gemma Melik Vartanian, Lilian Merdinian, Diana Minassian, Seta Nalbandian, Annie Pampanini, Anna Piliguian, Lucille Sahagian, Anna Semerdjian, Silva Setrakian, Ovsanna Tatarian, Rita Tatevossian, Nayda Voskerijian, and Silva Zadourian.

PRELACY LADIES GUILD’S MOTHERS DAY LUNCHEON

HONORS GRACE KESHGEGIAN AS MOTHER OF THE YEAR

By Florence Avakian

NEW YORK, NY—The annual Mother’ Day luncheon sponsored by the Prelacy Ladies’ Guild is always an event not to be missed. On Monday, May 10, close to 170 attended this much-awaited and festive event at the elegant Palace Hotel, located in midtown Manhattan.

His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, presided over the luncheon and delivered the invocation and benediction. Also in attendance were Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar of the Prelacy, Archpriest Fr. Nerses Manoogian, pastor of Philadelphia’s St. Gregory the Illuminator Church in Philadelphia, and Yeretzgin Marie Hagopian, widow of the late Archpriest Arsen Hagopian who served as the parish priest of Philadelphia’s St. Gregory Church for many years. The latter two had come, along with a host of other Philadelphians, specifically to witness the honor bestowed on Grace Keshgegian as the 2010 Mother of the Year.

Mrs. Iris Papazian, Director of Communications and Publications at the Prelacy, served as the afternoon’s MC. She warmly welcomed the guests seated at flower-bedecked tables in the chandeliered oval banquet hall, lined with classical paintings. She related that the year 2010 is the “Year of the Armenian Woman,” as decreed by His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia. “Women who have always performed many roles as Armenian mothers are known for their sacrifice, loyalty, as life-givers, and as a source of vitality for the community,” she said.

Following a delicious luncheon, Mrs. Papazian noted that Philadelphia has always been very supportive of this event, but this year they are here in full force, having traveled in a large bus that included family members, friends, the parish priest and many fellow parishioners of Grace Keshgegian, the honored mother of the year. “And this,” Mrs. Papazian said addressing the honoree, “is testimony to the love and respect the Philly community has for you.”

Mrs. Papazian described the honoree’s dedication to her family and to her parish of St. Gregory, where she has served as Board of Trustees member and chair—the first women elected to that position—as well as chair of the Ladies Guild, delegate to the National Representative Assembly, and above all “serving for decades as a faithful and supportive member of St. Gregory Church and its community.”

“Following the Armenian tradition of supporting church and school, Grace has given many years of devoted service to Philadelphia’s acclaimed Armenian Sisters Academy. She is the granddaughter of Rev. Fr. Nishan Papazian, who was ordained Vartabed after the death of his Yeretzgin, and Grace inherited his dedicated and stellar legacy, and has been a model mother, faithful friend with a lifetime of service,” said Mrs. Papazian.

Dedication from Faith
Presenting the award to Mrs. Keshgegian, Archbishop Oshagan stated that the honoree’s dedication springs from her “very strong faith in the Armenian Church which she has served with love and devotion. The Church is her life. It is vital for her, like air. She is an inspiration, and a source of strength for all.”

Reminding the attendees of the timeless words of the legendary Armenian poet, Vahan Tekeyan, who poetically wrote that in the final analysis what remains in life, strangely, is that which is given to others, His Eminence said. “Giving is receiving, and this is Grace Keshgegian, whose service to others is the joy of her life.”

In an inspiring address, the Prelate congratulated “all mothers here, and not here. Blessed are those who still have their mothers. Being an Armenian mother means forming an exemplary family with family values. Without the attributes that come from an Armenian mother, we wouldn’t be the nation we are. And we can show these values to other nations,” he said.

Highlight of My Life
In her remarks of appreciation, Mrs. Keshgegian described this day as “the highlight of my life.” She paid tribute to her grandparents who taught her “to be God loving and fearing.” Her grandfather, Der Nishan, “always stressed God and family first, and that’s what I live by,” she said with obvious emotion. She also made a special mention of the “greatest man” in her life, her husband, the late Dick Keshgegian, as well as her children and grandchildren. “I have truly been blessed.”

In a delightful musical interlude, Yerevan musician, actor and entertainer, Hovannes Babakhanyan, with his unique Armenian inflections and dramatizations, recited and sang popular Armenian songs from Sayat Nova, Arno Babajanian, and other composers.

Mrs. Nayda Voskerijian led the enthusiastic raffle drawing and distributed to the winners the more than two dozen elegant prizes with the help of other PLG members. In a charming turn of events, two of the prizes were won by Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, who promptly presented the gifts to the two ladies seated next to him.

In bringing the inspiring afternoon to a close, the MC expressed thanks to the members of the Prelacy Ladies Guild for their tireless work on this event, as well as other events they host for the Prelacy, and then invited the Prelate to offer his closing message and the benediction.

Members of the Prelacy Ladies Guild include: Seda Andrikian, Sima Artinoff, Marion Boudakian, Linda Chirinian, Amy Gostanian, Lilian Hairabedian, Gemma Melik Vartanian, Lilian Merdinian, Diana Minassian, Seta Nalbandian, Annie Pampanini, Anna Piliguian, Lucille Sahagian, Anna Semerdjian, Silvia Setrakian, Ovsanna Tatarian, Rita Tatevossian, Nayda Voskerijian, and Silva Zadourian.

 

In Memoriam
BISHOP NSHAN TOPOUZIAN
(1966-2010)
Prelate of the Armenian Diocese of Aderbadagan (Iran)

           

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, His Eminence Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern United States, and the Cilician Brotherhood announce with immense sorrow the untimely passing of the Prelate of the Diocese of Aderbadagan, Bishop Nshan Topouzian, which took place on Tuesday, April 27, 2010, in Armenia following a brief illness.

           

The Extreme Unction and burial services will take place in Tabriz, Iran.

 

By the order of the Prelate, Archbishop Oshagan, Requiem Services for the soul of the late Bishop will take place in all Eastern Prelacy churches on Sunday, May 2.

           

May his memory be forever blessed.

PRELACY SECRETARIAT

April 27, 2010