WATERTOWN, Mass.—The Armenians of Istanbul, Turkey, faced extraordinary conditions in the 1920’s. Reeling from the chaos and losses of the World War I genocide, they had little to guide them as they looked to the future.

Lerna Ekmekcioglu

In this in-depth study of the aftermath of the genocide among the surviving Armenians remaining in Istanbul, Professor Lerna Ekmekcioglu has analyzed publications of the period to trace the process of reconstructing the community. Her new book on the subject, Recovering Armenia: The Limits of Belonging in Post Genocide Turkey, recently released by Stanford University Press, explains the central role played by Armenian women in preserving traditions, memory, and language.

Professor Ekmekcioglu will present the book at an illustrated talk on May 5, beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the Armenian Museum of America, in a program sponsored jointly by the Armenian International Woman’s Association (AIWA), the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR), and the Armenian Museum of America.

Recovering Armenia gives voice to the Armenian community’s prominent figures of the time, notably the activist and feminist Hayganush Mark, editor of the influential journal Hay Gin (Armenian Woman). Feminism among the Armenians, Professor Ekmekcioglu argues, reached its zenith in the immediate aftermath of the genocide and in the capital of Turkey. The occupation of Istanbul by the victorious Allies in World War I provided a conducive atmosphere for the development of the Armenian press. With the approach of Kemal Ataturk’s National forces toward the capital in the fall of 1922, however, many Armenians fled from the city and were barred subsequently from returning.

Feminist Hayganush Mark, depicted as a suffragette, with banners of the Armenian Women’s Association (left) and Hay Gin (Armenian Woman, right), 1921

Mark managed to continue publication in the face of the declining Armenian population and the increasing hostility of the Turkish government. Professor Ekmekcioglu examines the dilemma faced by the Armenian community as it sought to accommodate itself to the demands of Turkish society while at the same time preserving its distinct culture and traditions. One approach to this dilemma was to pay extra attention to the Armenian family and home, a domain in which the Turkish government did not intrude aggressively.

In 1933 Hay Gin was closed by the government. But during the 1920’s Hayganush Mark and her colleagues managed to produce a lively journal, focusing on the issues of the day, emphasizing the woman’s duty to family and nation while at the same time calling for equal rights. But their viewpoint raised a basic paradox: could one be an Armenian and a feminist at a time when the key path for Armenians to maintain their identity was through traditionally gendered roles?

Dr. Lerna Ekmekcioglu is the McMillan-Stewart Associate Professor of History and an affiliate of the Woman and Gender Study Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A student of the modern Middle East, she specializes in Turkish and Armenian history at the beginning of the 20^th century. Her work focuses on minority-majority relationships and the ways in which gendered analytical lenses help to better understand coexistence and conflict, including genocide, in the Middle East.

A native of Turkey, Professor Ekmekcioglu is a graduate of Bogazici University in Istanbul and received her doctorate from New York University. Her first book, co-edited with Melissa Bilal and published in 2006 in Turkish, is titled A Cry for Justice: Five Armenian Feminist Writers, from the Ottoman Empire to the Turkish Republic (1862-1933).

The public is cordially invited to attend this program, which will shed light on a significant but little known aspect of the Armenian experience in the 20^th century.

By Josh Rizkalla

WORCESTER, Mass. (WSU News)—Armenian American author Chris Bohjalian recently spoke to a supportive crowd in commemoration of the 101st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at Worcester State University (WSU). His passionate remarks made it clear that a century later, Armenian descendants still feel the pain and frustration of Turkey’s refusal to acknowledge the event.

Bohjalian described the resounding impact of his travels through Western Armenia while showing the desperate state of once revered churches, which now stand as forgotten relics. A 1,000-year-old church on Akhtamar Island in Turkey sits vandalized and riddled with bullet holes after being used as a shooting range during World War II.

From left, WSU’s Henry Theriault, George Aghjayan, WSU President Barry Maloney, WSU Provost Lois Wims, Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty, the Very Rev. Sahag Yemishyan, the Rev. Aved Terzian, Jermaine McCalpin, Patricia Marshall, and Chris Bohjalian

In spite of the challenges the sovereign state of Armenia faces, Bohjalian encouraged the crowd by describing meetings with bright students at rural schools that “are facilities that we would be proud to have any of our own children attend.”

The author shares the Armenian experience in his novels. His 2012 New York Times bestseller The Sandcastle Girls follows a granddaughter learning more about her heritage through the love story of her grandparents following the genocide. After a failed attempt to get a manuscript about the genocide published, success came when he realized he did not need to write for Armenians, but “for my fans who could not find Armenia on a map.”

He continued to stress the importance of sharing these stories as a way to make the injustice known.

“While so many of our ancestors’ voices were still, the descendants are speaking more passionately and powerfully than ever before,” Bohjalian said.

From left, Chris Bohjalian, Jermaine McCalpin, and George Aghjayan

By remembering the past, Bohjalian hopes to find a brighter tomorrow to honor the estimated 1.5 million people who died during the genocide.

Referring to 1915 and 2016, Bohjalian said that “all of us must live with one foot in both years.”

“The fact is, we are still here, we are alive; Turkey failed,” he added.

Also speaking at the event was Dr. Jermaine McCalpin, who is praised as a leader in the discussion on reparations for Armenia as a means for justice. A professor at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica and a member of the Armenian Genocide Reparations Study Group, McCalpin gave an insightful and firm address on the importance of reparations to the process of healing.

“You can’t repair something that you’ve never acknowledged,” McCalpin said. “And part of the problem with denial is that it gives the power to the denier to essentially say ‘this thing never happened.’ We have to wrestle that power away to say not only did the genocide occur, but those who have suffered continue to suffer.”

The night began with a prayer by the Rev. Aved Terzian of Worcester’s Church of Our Savior, followed by a welcoming by Worcester State Provost Lois Wims.

In a proclamation dedicating the event, Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty touched on the need to “stay awake and vigilant” to the dangers of history repeating itself. He also offered praise to the guests for speaking with truth and justice in mind before awarding them both a key to the city. The Very Rev. Sahag Yemishyan of Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church in Worcester led the closing prayer.

Event organizer, WSU Professor of Philosophy Henry Theriault, Ph.D., was pleased with the event and what it meant to the community.

“Chris Bohjalian and Jermaine McCalpin combined for a truly landmark event. Each gave cutting-edge speeches that together set an important agenda regarding the Armenian Genocide in the post-centennial era,” he said. “Worcester State has demonstrated once more in a profoundly meaningful way the depth of its commitment as a public university to its own students and the broader community.

“This surely means a tremendous amount to Armenian students at Worcester State and Armenians from Central Massachusetts and beyond,” Theriault added. “On a personal note, I am truly proud of my university and the significant role it is playing in an issue of global concern and with great geopolitical consequence.”

The remarks “not only provided new ways of thinking about the future of Armenians and other groups victimized by mass violence, but both [speakers] emphasized that the route to that better future requires going through the past to address the outstanding harms of the mass violence,” he said.

In addition to being sponsored by several Worcester State groups, the event also was sponsored by the Armenian Church of Our Savior, Soorp Asdvadzadzin Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian Church of the Martyrs, Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church, Armenian National Committee (ANC) of Central Massachusetts, and the Knights of Vartan, Ashavir Lodge No. 2.

RACINE, Wisc.—Racine Armenians held a series of events to commemorate the 101st Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Unexpectedly, the first event, an information session, was held on Sun., April 3, following the April1-2 Azeri offensive into Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh Republic/NKR). Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Racine “Marzbed” gomideh chairperson Zohrab Khaligian informed the local community that this was the largest Azeri offensive since the 1994 ceasefire, stretching from Martakert to Hadrut. Fortunately, although the Azeris did advance and the Armenian forces suffered casualties, the NKR Defense Army eventually regained the lost territory and inflicted far greater casualties on the Azeri side.  Community members were strongly encouraged to go to the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) website and join the #StopAliyev campaign to urge President Barack Obama and Congress to take action to stop Azerbaijan’s attacks.  Laptops were made available to members of the community so they may take immediate action.

Ani Saryan, chairperson of ANC of Wisconsin, speaking at the annual reception and program commemorating the Armenian Genocide at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison

On Sun., April 10, the ARF “Marzbed” gomideh held its annual basturma and eggs brunch, during which ANC of Wisconsin chairperson Ani Saryan presented an additional update on the Artsakh situation.  Although the initial fighting had stopped, Azeri forces were continuing to fire sporadically at Armenian targets. Saryan once again encouraged community members to visit the ANCA website to take action immediately. “By not doing so, we as Armenians are only encouraging our U.S. government to continue to side with Azerbaijan,” said Saryan.

On Sat., April 16, the Joint Committee of Armenian Churches of Greater Chicago and Wisconsin held an Ecumenical Prayer Service with the theme, “Martyrs for Christ: Yesterday and Today,” with special attention to the Armenian Genocide. The event was hosted by Assumption Greek Orthodox Church. More than 225 people attended, with featured remarks by Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Legate of the Eastern Diocese, with a homily by Greek Orthodox Bishop Demetrios, and an additional message from Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy.

On Tues., April 19, the ANC of Wisconsin hosted its annual reception and program commemorating the Armenian Genocide at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison. The purpose of the event is to thank the Wisconsin State Assembly and State Senate for adopting Armenian Genocide Resolutions, in 2000 and 2002, respectively, which designate April 24 of each year as “Wisconsin Day of Remembrance for the Armenian Genocide of 1915 to 1923,” and to continue to educate and promote awareness of Armenia and Armenian issues, particularly the Armenian Genocide.

The event was hosted by ANC of Wisconsin and Representatives Peter Barca (D-Kenosha), Chris Danou (D-Trempealeau), Samantha Kerkman (R-Powers Lake), Cory Mason (D-Racine), Tod Ohnstad (D-Kenosha), Daniel Reimer (D-Milwaukee), Jessie Rodriguez (R-Franklin), Katrina Shankland (D-Stevens Point), Chris Taylor (D-Madison), Robin Vos (R-Burlington), Thomas Weatherston (R-Racine) and Josh Zepnick (D-Milwaukee); and Senators Nikiya Harris-Dodd (D-Milwaukee), Chris Larson (D-South Milwaukee), Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin), Van Wanggaard (R-Racine), and Bob Wirch (D-Kenosha). Additional state legislators and staff attended, including Debra Kolste (D-Janesville), Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit), Lisa Subeck (D-Madison), and Senator Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee).

Rep. Peter Barca (D-Kenosha)

In her remarks, Saryan informed the audience that the Pan-Turkic policy to eliminate all non-Turkic people that resulted in the Armenian Genocide in 1915 was at work again at the beginning of April with Azerbaijan’s invasion of the Armenian-enclave of Nagorno-Karabagh.  “This is Turkey’s and Azerbaijan’s attempt to unite their Turkic populations and the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabagh and Armenia stand in their way,” she said.

On Sat., April 23, the annual joint memorial service for the Armenian Genocide was held at St. John the Baptist Armenian Church in Greenfield. The memorial service included the participation of all four Armenian churches in Wisconsin—St. Hagop and St. Mesrob in Racine, Holy Resurrection in South Milwaukee, and St. John in Greenfield—as well as both Armenian churches in Waukegan, Illinois—St. George and St. Paul. The service was followed by a fellowship in the church hall.

Rep Dan Reimer (D-Milwaukee)

The events came to a close on Sun., April 24 with the Divine Liturgy officiated by Reverend Father Daron Stapanian at St. Hagop Armenian Church in Racine. The Liturgy included a dedicated service of the Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide icon that was a gift by the Samuelian Family in loving memory of Anne Samuelian.

Senator Van Wanggaard (R-Racine)

Rep. Tod Ohnstad (D-Kenosha)

DETROIT, Mich.—On April 23, the Metro Detroit community came together to commemorate the 101st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.  The event was held at the Dearborn Performing Arts – Michael Guido Theater in Dearborn, Mich.  Around 600 people attended the event, which headlined guest speaker Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director Aram Hamparian.

Guest speaker ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian

The program opened with remarks from the emcees Dr. Hovig Kouyoumdjian (ANCA Eastern Region board member) and Lara Nercessian (ANC-Michigan chair).  After brief welcoming remarks, the Homenetmen Scouts presented the flags and sang the national anthems.

Homenetmen Scouts singing the national anthems

Mr. Klimt Kesto, member of the Michigan House of Representatives, spoke on the recent Michigan House Bill 4493, sponsored by Kesto, which would mandate genocide education, including the Armenian Genocide, in Michigan schools.  The Metro Detroit Armenian Community is making a strong push to pass this bill as written.  Kesto, a long-time supporter of the Armenian Genocide recognition, has been involved with securing aid in the Middle East for Christian minorities. Kesto said “that it’s important the youth learn the history of all genocides, including the Armenian Genocide, so that never again, means never again.”

ANC-Michigan Chair Lara Nercessian

Also speaking on behalf of Michigan Senator Marty Knollenberg was his District Director Shawn Ciavattone.  “The Knollenbergs have a long history of supporting the Armenian cause,” said Ciavattone.

Also in attendance were Mr. Steve G. Stylianou, honorary consul of Cyprus; Pascal Goachet, honorary consul of France; and Mark Shooshanian, Dearborn City councilmember.

ANCA Eastern Region board member Dr. Hovig Kouyoumdjian

The Hamazakayin Arax Dance ensemble performed two dances dedicated to the Armenian Genocide.  The dances performed were “Giligia” and “Saints’ Eyes.” Mrs. Nairi Karapetian directs the dance group and prepared these dances especially for this event.

The Hamazakayin Arax Dance ensemble

The Detroit Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Kopernick Tandourjian Board member Sevan Markosian delivered the message of the youth.  “Every one of us here shows that we, as Armenians, have the power to survive,” said Markosian.

Detroit AYF Kopernick Tandourjian Board member Sevan Markosian

The guest speaker, ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian spoke passionately on 1) strengthening Armenia and Artsakh, 2) ensuring a secure and independent Artsakh, and 3) the Armenian Genocide.

Hamparian said that the “ANCA is doing everything to stop the Azeri aggression on Karabagh.”

Hamparian was welcomed on stage by thunderous applause by the Detroit community for his passionate work.

Raffi Ourlian, chairman of the Armenian Genocide Committee of Metro Detroit, took the stage to thank the committee members for their hard work and stressed the importance of community participation in demanding justice for the Armenian Genocide Martyrs.

The event closed with benediction from Badvaeli Shant Barsoumian and Father Hrant Kevorkian.  Overall, the event was a major success and the audience left the venue motivated and enriched.

ANSIC has partnered with the MSSEF to invite representatives from Dasaran and Ministry of Education of Armenia to Boston. (Photo: Jeremy Thomas)

We often hear about the accomplishments of Armenian high school students at various science Olympiads. These events primarily test students’ theoretical knowledge and problem solving skills in an exam setting. Applied sciences in Armenian schools, on the other hand, have seemingly not received the same level of attention and, often times, have been neglected. Yet, it is through applied sciences that almost all tangible technological impact on society is made, since scientific theory is turned into practical and usable products and services. Therefore, introducing school students to the scientific method, i.e., the way to ask and answer scientific questions by making observations and doing experiments, as early as possible in their lives, is a critical step in ensuring that society will have a healthy pipeline of world-class applied scientists and engineers. Just as young athletes are trained and nurtured through their school years, children with curiosity about science and the world around them, should also receive the same attention.

Science fairs at school level aim at planting seeds of applied science and the scientific method among students.  The importance of participating in a science fair comes in the process of forming ideas, testing hypotheses, and being able to clearly articulate results.  Adding to the excitement are the trophies and public recognition, which often propel students’ scientific inquiries.

World’s largest and most prestigious science competition for high school students is Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF). Each May, approximately 1,700 students from over 75 countries arrive in the U.S. to showcase their talents on an international stage, where doctoral level scientists review and judge their work. Students compete for scholarships, tuition grants, internships, scientific field trips and the grand prizes, including one $75,000 and two $50,000 college scholarships. All prizes together amount to over $4 million. Seven ISEF alumni have gone on to win Nobel Prizes.

Sadly, Armenia has never participated in the Intel ISEF, while other post-Soviet states, including Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, have had Intel ISEF affiliated fairs for many years. Two years ago, after discovering that Armenia did not have any Intel ISEF affiliated science fairs and was missing out on such an important opportunity to promote scientific achievements of its young generation, a group of Boston-based STEM education enthusiasts, led by Dr. Ara Stepanyan, decided to introduce science fairs in Armenia. They founded Armenian National Science and Innovation Competition (ANSIC) initiative with the goal to organize the first national science fair for high school students in Armenia and represent the country at the Intel ISEF.

ANSIC started reaching out to individual schools in Armenia. However, the initiative had a turning point after a meeting between ANSIC’s Ara Stepanyan and Hovhannes Ghazarian of Dasaran in Boston in 2015. Dasaran is a unique educational platform which connects over 1,495 schools in Armenia and Artsakh with a user community of more than 1 million students, teachers, and parents.  ANSIC organizers realized that Dasaran was the perfect platform to engage not just a few schools but all schools in Armenia and Artsakh. This was the beginning of the collaboration between ANSIC and Dasaran.

Furthermore, ANSIC has partnered with the Massachusetts State Science and Engineering Fair (MSSEF) to invite representatives from Dasaran and Ministry of Education of Armenia to Boston, and to organize teacher and science fair administration training in Armenia. As the next step, the ANSIC team, including Dasaran’s Suren Aloyan and Hovhannes Ghazaryan, and Dr. Ara Stepanyan and Dr. Ara Nazarian, will be attending the 67th Annual MSSEF which will be held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on May 6-7, and the 2016 Intel ISEF which will be held in in Phoenix, Arizona on May 8-13.  The purpose of the visits will be to observe these prestigious science fairs and to learn about their management and administration in order to introduce science fairs and promote project-based science teaching in Armenia.

Mr. Suren Aloyan and Mr. Hovhannes Ghazaryan are co-founders of Dasaran. The portal serves not only as a way to connect students, parents, and teachers and to disseminate educational materials but also as an online management tool for implementing the national education policies and promoting transparency and accountability in schools via the use of e-diaries and e-gradebooks.  Mr. Aloyan serves also as the CEO of Dasaran, holds a degree in business management and has dedicated over ten years of his professional life to improving IT conditions in Armenian schools. Mr. Ghazaryan is a graduate of Harvard Kennedy School of Government and has over ten years of experiences in the public sector. Dr. Ara Stepanyan is an economist and management consultant based in Boston, and serves as the founding director of ANSIC. Dr. Ara Nazarian is a professor at Harvard Medical School and an ANSIC board member, and has served as a MSSEF judge for many years.

Hold Dilworth Park Sit-in

By Sareen Streeter

The Philadelphia Armenian community held a sit-in protest in Dilworth Park on April 23, to commemorate the 1.5 million Armenians who were brutally massacred 101 years ago.

A scene from the commemoration (Photo: Alec Balian)

Attendees gathered at 1 S 15th Street in downtown Philadelphia to raise awareness about the atrocities committed against the Armenians by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923, as well as the continued Turkish denial of this unforgettable crime.

The program, which lasted from 12-4 p.m., began with prayers by Rev. Nishan Bakalian (Armenian Martyrs Church), Rev. Fr. Hakob Gevorgyan (Holy Trinity), Rev. Thomas Garabedian (St. Marks), and Very Rev. Fr. Oshagan Gulgulian (St. Sahag and St. Mesrob Church), representing local Armenian Churches in the greater Philadelphia area, followed by the singing of the U.S. and Armenian national anthems by Alisia Handian.

A scene from the commemoration (Photo: Alec Balian)

Guest speaker Arpy Minasian, a board member of the Philadelphia Armenian Inter-Communal Committee, gave a remarkable speech, which highlighted the current challenges Armenians are facing today, particularly in Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh Republic/NKR).

Lena Ohannesian spoke next. She told the crowd about her family’s genocide story and what brutalities her grandmother witnessed and endured.

A scene from the commemoration (Photo: Alec Balian)

Following her remarks, an hour of silence was initiated to commemorate and remember victims of the genocide. In the meantime, the crowd was invited to approach the large cardboard cutout maps of Greater Armenia and indicate where they were from with a red sticker.

The youth spread out around City Hall holding posters and duct taping their mouths shut to represent denial.

Many members of the community also passed out information sheets about the Armenian Genocide to educate the public.

A scene from the commemoration (Photo: Alec Balian)

Sareen and Nare Minasian broke the silence by telling their families’ genocide story and what both sides of their families faced and overcame.

Students of the Armenian Sisters Academy followed by singing commemorative songs. The best was saved for last when the Hamazkayin Meghry Dance group stopped traffic by performing multiple Armenian dances. They invited the crowd, along with Americans passing by, to join them in a “shourch bar” around city hall.

To learn more about this event and other related commemorative events taking place in the greater Philadelphia area, visit www.armeniangenocidewalk.com (Photo: Alec Balian)

To learn more about this event and other related commemorative events taking place in the greater Philadelphia area, visit http://www.armeniangenocidewalk.com. To view photographs and videos from the event, visit https://www.facebook.com/ArmenianGenocidePhilly.

ANC-IL Chair Raffi Killian Presides over Remembrance

GLENVIEW, Ill.—On Sun., April 24, more than 500 members and clergy of the greater Chicago Armenian community joined together at the All Saints Armenian Church in Glenview, to commemorate the 101^st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. The event opened with the Divine Liturgy, following by a short program by the Armenian National Committee of Illinois (ANC-Il) at the monument, located on the church grounds, dedicated to the 1.5 million Holy Armenian Martyrs.

Very Reverend Father Ghevont Pentezian, pastor of All Saints Armenian Church of Glenview, Ill.

Raffi Killian, chairperson of the ANC-IL, welcomed the crowd and clergy, the Very Reverend Father Ghevont Pentezian of All Saints Armenian Church, and acknowledged Father Zareh Sahakian, retired pastor of All Saints Armenian Church.  Chicago area clergy present included Reverend Father Sahak Kaishian, St. George Armenian Church (Waukegan); Reverend Father Hovhan Khoja-Eynatyan, St. James Armenian Church (Evanston); Reverend Father Tavit Boyajian, Sts. Joachim & Anne Armenian Church (Palos Heights); Pastor Jeremy Tovmassian, Armenian Evangelical Church (Mt. Prospect), and Reverend Father Nareg Keutelian, St. John the Baptist Armenian Church (Greenfield, Wisconsin).  Reverend Father Daron Stepanian of St. Paul Armenian Apostolic Church (Waukegan) was unable to attend but was represented by members of his parish.

In his remarks, Killian said that we must not only remember the genocide, but as Armenians, it is a duty and privilege to pursue a just resolution to this long-open wound in Armenian history.  He commented, “Whereas commemoration at its core is a personal experience, seeking justice is our collective battle.”  Killian went on to explain recent efforts to continue to distort and rewrite history by Turkey and Azerbaijan: the FactCheckArmenia campaign; Erdogan’s support of ISIS to continue persecution of Kurds, Yezidis, and Christian minorities in the Middle East; and Aliyev’s military offensive against Nagorno-Karabagh that specifically targeted civilian populated areas.  He asserted, “Over 100 years have passed since the Armenian Genocide but the same motivations to create a pan-Turkic empire have not subsided within the Turkish power base.”

Very Reverend Father Ghevont Pentezian, pastor of All Saints Armenian Church of Glenview, Ill.

ANC-IL was successful in assembling a number of local, state, and national officials to attend this 101^st commemoration.  At Killian’s prompt, Very Reverend Father Pentezian opened the speaking program. The crowd was honored to hear from U.S. Congressman Bob Dold, Illinois 10th Congressional District, co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues; Illinois State Senator Daniel Biss, 9th Senate District; Illinois State Representative Laura Fine, 17th Representative District; Cook County Commissioner Gregg Goslin, 14th District; Raja Krishnamoorthi, candidate for Congress, Illinois 8th Congressional District; Mark Dietzen, Outreach Coordinator for Senator Mark Kirk, who interestingly has spent half of the past decade in Armenia, first as a Peace Corps volunteer and later as executive director of Americans for Artsakh, a non-profit which supports development in the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic; and Endy Zemenides, Executive Director, Hellenic American Leadership Council.

The program concluded with the singing of the beautiful and haunting memorial to our Holy Martyrs, “Hanchetsek,” which translates as rest for the dead, during which the crowd placed red carnations upon the genocide monument.

NORTH BERGEN, N.J.—The Armenian International Women’s Association (AIWA) New Jersey Affiliate, celebrated its annual luncheon in honor of Women’s Entrepreneurship, AIWA’s 25th Anniversary and Women’s History Month, on March 13, at Waterside Restaurant.

Ani Kalayjian, left, performs on the cello. Lisa Stepanian, right, was honored for her contributions to AIWA.

Following a warm welcome from Margaret Janikian, AIWA N.J. President, Mistress of Ceremonies Nvair Beylerian highlighted the impact of AIWA, which promotes and enriches the social, economic, and personal advancement of Armenian women around the globe, while raising funds and awareness for educational and community programs and activities.

Armenia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations His Eminence Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, who has had ties to AIWA dating back to the 2004 AIWA International Conference in Geneva, conveyed the importance of Armenian women around the world belonging to a community, which is made possible by AIWA’s international affiliates. He noted the instrumental role Armenian women have played throughout history and their strength in working together towards issues of Armenian identity.

Featured entrepreneur, Sossie Dadoyan Arlia—owner of Jack In The Box Schools, located in Closter, N.J., and recently chosen to be a part of a book titled, Redefining Success, by Ally Nathaniel—spoke about her decision to buy Jack In The Box School in 1983 and her hard work towards expanding it over the course of 30 plus years.

“Once I became the owner of Jack in the Box School, all I could think of was to make it better,” said Dadoyan Arlia. “It took years of renovations and remodeling until I made the school something to be proud of.”

Following her initial school’s success, she opened two additional locations in Alpine and Tenafly, while also devoting her time to serve as a volunteer at a non-profit preschool as a mentor and advisor. Portions of the book sale proceeds of Redefining Success were donated to the Women’s Entrepreneurship Program in Yerevan, one of AIWA’s major programs in Armenia.

Dadoyan Arlia imparted words of advice to the audience, noting the importance of recognizing opportunity, being surrounded by good people, and being kind and generous.

“Life has a funny way of guiding you, but it has to make sense, and it has to be at the right time,” she said. “When opportunity presents itself to you, say yes, and do not look back. I was not afraid to open the doors that were placed in front of me.”

The event’s honoree, Lisa Stepanian, has served as the founder and president of the AIWA New Jersey Affiliate for over 20 years, during which she represented the organization at the United Nations and served on the NGO Committee on the Status of Women. She currently serves as executive director of Armenia Fund USA. Her volunteerism continues as a member of the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking, and as founding member of Caring Hands Fund, a non-profit charity organization that raised funds and provided critical medical surgeries to underprivileged individuals in Yerevan.

“Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy,” said Stepanian. “We vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in. I can’t express how grateful I was to be honored for my volunteer work for AIWA.”

Founding member of AIWA and Board of Directors Representative Barbara Merguerian traced the history of AIWA back to 1991, when the announcement of the organization’s formation was met with skepticism and people said there was no need for another Armenian organization.

“But we felt that our organization is unique,” said Merguerian, historian, writer, and former editor of the Armenian Mirror Spectator. “It was important to have in the Armenian diaspora an independent women’s organization, non-political and non-sectarian, dedicated to the interests and concerns of Armenian women.”

Merguerian noted that AIWA was established the same year that Armenia became independent, which propelled the organization’s efforts. She highlighted the first successful initiative in Yerevan, which was to support the Yerevan Women’s Reproductive Health Center. Present-day, AIWA’s efforts in Armenia are concentrated on the Women’s Entrepreneurship Program at the American University of Armenia.

“We believe that all Armenian women, wherever they live, whatever their level of education, their social class or status in life, whether professionals or not, all have interests in common and can benefit by coming together and charting a course for the future,” said Merguerian.

On AIWA’s 25^th anniversary, Merguerian said she looks forward to continuing to “promote and enrich the social, economic and personal advancement of Armenian women worldwide through educational and other community activities that unite Armenian women, promote gender equity, and emphasize our Armenian cultural heritage.”

Musical selections were played by Ani Kalayjian, a prize-winning concert cellist who performed a selection of Armenian and classical pieces.

“It was an honor to be invited to this event as a guest speaker and entrepreneur,” said Dadoyan Arlia. “I was very impressed with the organization’s dedication as well as each of the accomplishments of the members, each in their own fields.”

“It was truly inspiring to feel the extraordinary energy in the room from the podium,” said Beylerian, founder and president of HYEfamily, a music production company specializing in children’s music in Armenian. “By supporting AIWA’s initiatives, attendees proved that they understand the importance of empowering women in Armenia, along with Diaspora-Armenian women worldwide.”

Beylerian, whose professional background is in television production, has also served as communications consultant at the UN Children Fund and has volunteered her skills and expertise to benefit strategic fundraising, event planning and teaching song and folk dance.

“Whether running a Fortune 500 company or helping the less fortunate through charitable work; whether starting a new business from scratch or entering your final work-year before retirement; single, married, divorced or widowed; whether raising a family as a working mom, stay-at-home mom or caring for an elderly relative, we are all in this together,” said Beylerian. “We, as Armenian women, have the power to create, nurture, educate, and transform society.”

The first Armenian Genealogy Conference was held at the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center (ACEC), in Watertown, Mass., on the weekend of April 9-10. More than 300 people attended the two-day conference. Some came from as far as Vancouver, Canada, while two participants flew in from Great Britain.

Nancy Guzelian sharing an old photograph (Photo: Kenneth Martin)

The program began Saturday with a welcome by the three conference organizers, Tracy Rivest Keeney, Mark Arslan, and George Aghjayan.

Keeney, creator of the Armenian Genealogy Facebook page, led the first presentation, covering the sources most commonly available to genealogists in the United States. She used real cases in highlighting the valuable information that can be gleaned from the sources. Her talk supplied an important foundation, especially for those just beginning their family tree research.

The next presenter, Arslan, provided background on his family research and its evolution to become the Armenian Immigration Project. Initially devoted to immigrants from Keghi, the website has become an extensive database for all immigrants to the United States. Arslan gave examples of the ways to search the databases as well as to link individuals to various records. He also explained how others can help in transcribing records.

Steve Kurkjian and Janet Andreopoulos speaking on how DNA can play a role in Armenian family research (Photo: Kenneth Martin)

Vahe Tachjian, director of Houshamadyan, spoke of the project’s aim to “reconstruct Ottoman Armenian town and village life.” He gave examples of memory items that supply important context, particularly for genealogists. He also explained how people can help expand the project.

Then, both Houshamadyan and Project Save—the Armenian photograph archives and one of the sponsoring organizations of the conference—welcomed attendees to their booths, where participants shared their photographs, family trees, and other memory items, and learned about these two important Armenian institutions.

Following lunch, Luc Baronian, professor of linguistics at Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, spoke of the importance of the books, periodicals, and other information contained in the records of Armenian compatriotic unions. Using the examples of Gurin, Ourfa, Albustan, and Gesaria, Baronian detailed early census records, hand-drawn maps, post-genocide lists of villagers around the world, and survivor memoirs to highlight the richness of material available to genealogists.

Participants with roots in Capadocia (Photo: Kenneth Martin)

The final speakers for the day were Janet Achoukian Andreopoulos and Stephen Kurkjian. Andreopoulos supplied a brief explanation of the different DNA tests available and the companies that offer them. Kurkjian and Andreopoulos then told the story of how a DNA test helped one woman identify her Armenian father. Andreopoulos walked the audience step-by-step through the process and methods she used to unearth the previously unknown father.

The final two hours on Saturday were devoted to networking and actual research. More than 12 volunteers from nearby Family History Centers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints helped attendees with their own family research. In addition, based on the village origins of conference participants, photographs of the attendees were taken with others from the same region—the villages fell into 12 regions, and participants were divided into groups accordingly. DNA kits from Family Tree DNA were also made available at a discount.

Two of the organizers as well as speakers – Mark Arslan and Tracy Keeney (Photo: Kenneth Martin)

The day-long program was video-taped by Roger Hagopian, well-known local filmmaker (“Destination Watertown: The Armenians of Hood Rubber” and “Memories of Marash”). The videos (14 parts) are available through the National Association for Armenian Studies and Research (NAASR) YouTube channel:

Click here to view the embedded video.

On Sunday, cosponsors Project Save, the NAASR, and the Armenian Museum of America (AMA) opened their doors to conference participants. Attendees learned more about the missions of the organizations, their extensive collections and resources, and the way they can be used by genealogists. Hamazkayin Boston and the Tekeyan Cultural Association also sponsored the conference. Given the tremendous success of the program, future conferences are currently being planned for other locations.

Participants with roots in Cilicia (Photo: Kenneth Martin)

A slide-show of photographs taken by Kenneth Martin is also available online. (http://westernarmenia.weebly.com/armenian-genealogy-conference-2016.html).

By Muriel Mirak-Weissbach

YEREVAN—Students at the Anahit Tsitsikyan music school in Yerevan celebrated the donation of new instruments in the most appropriate fashion possible: by playing them in concert for a capacity audience of friends and family.

On April 25, guests gathered in the recital hall, which had been fully renovated in 2014 by the U.S. Embassy’s organization Helping Hands and the Fuller Center for Housing Armenia. After a brief welcoming, all stood for a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide. Over the previous days, Yerevan had hosted international events commemorating the 101^st anniversary of the genocide, including the inaugural Aurora Prize events.

In her introduction, the musicology teacher stressed that, as we remember the past, we commit ourselves to securing the future, and schools like this one are crucial to that effort.

The concert opened with a piano solo, performed by a young girl who had found a new home with her family in Yerevan, after fleeing war-ravaged Syria last year.  Then, with piano accompaniment, students performed alone or in groups. Instrumentalists played works for the clarinet, violin, or canon–both solo and ensemble–and vocalists included a female chorus of four, as well as a co-ed chorus of students of all ages; one as young as five. The clarinet and solo canon were among the new instruments the school had received as the result of a crowd-fundraising effort launched by Ayo!, and supported, among others, by the Mirak-Weissbach Foundation (www.m-w-stiftung.org).

Ayo! (www.weareayo.org) was founded two years ago by the Fund for Armenian Relief (www.farusa.org), and sponsors development projects to assist children, elderly, and socially disadvantaged people in Armenia.

As the school’s principal, Diana Hovhannisyan, had told me before the performance, we would not be able to hear all the new instruments for one simple reason: since the school previously lacked wind instruments, it could not offer instruction for the clarinet, trumpet, flute, or saxophone. Now, it has all these instruments—two of each—and will recruit new teachers to organize classes for the numerous students who have expressed a desire to learn them. One young man had studied privately with his own clarinet, and it was he who inaugurated the new instrument during the concert. In addition to these wind instruments, the school received a new canon, which made its debut as well. During our next visit, Hovhannisyan promised that we can look forward to hearing a wind ensemble perform.

The program offered at the concert presented a mix of traditional Armenian music and a classical European repertoire. Youngsters who study traditional Armenian music enjoy the support of the government, which covers tuition, whereas others must cover the cost themselves. This amounts to $12-$15 a month, a considerable amount for the families in the low-income neighborhood where the students live. And, if the school does not have instruments available, the families have to purchase them. The more progress a student makes, the more important that quality instruments—like those donated—be available, no matter what the price. As Jemma Safaryan, the Ayo! project manager, remarked, “The instruments they received as a gift through our project made the children more excited and happy. They strive to work even harder, as now they have the one important thing that was lacking—the instruments!”

The enthusiasm and joy the students expressed was indeed rewarding. And to see the five-year-old Volodya Sargsyan among them was a special treat. Not only does he sing in the co-ed chorus, but he is also a gifted solo drummer, as we were privileged to witness in a short session he played for us after the concert. Surely, Anahit Tsitsikyan would be proud.

Representatives of the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) traveled to Gyumri on May 12, to pay a visit to the family of the late freedom-fighter, Hratch Galstyan, who was martyred in Talish during the four-day April war. The purpose of the visit was to congratulate on behalf of the worldwide membership of the ARS the birth of Anahit, Galstyan’s daughter, and to offer moral and material assistance to Galstyan’s widow, Anoush Ohanian, and her family.  The ARS delegation was accompanied by the representative of the ARS Akhurian “Mother & Child” Health and Birthing Center Suzanna Hovhannisian. The visit was initiated by the ARS Central Executive Board and headed by ARS/Armenia Regional Board Chairperson Narine Galstyan.

Anoush Ohanian with baby Anahit (Photo: hetq.am)

Reflecting on the occasion, ARS Central Executive Board Chairperson, Caroline Chamavonian, said, “In immediate response to the April conflict, the ARS called upon all its entities and communities to assist the population of Artsakh. At this moment, Artsakh and its people are our primary concern. Putting all our resources to their service, in the spirit of our slogan, ‘With the people, for the People,’ we will continue to devote our care to the wounded and martyred soldiers’ families, and all others who need our assistance in the aftermath of this aggression.”

The birth of Vrej, the very first child to be delivered at the ARS “Mother & Child” Health and Birthing Center was registered on April 24, 2005, and now, eleven years later, the birth of Anahit comes as reassurance that the unshaken will of the Armenian people to live, and help others live, remains as strong as ever.

Baby Anahit Galstyan was born on May 6, under the roof of the ARS Akhurian “Mother & Child” Health and Birthing Center, established in 1997, servicing the health needs of the Akhurian population, as well as many residents of the nearby villages.

Angele Manoogian, chair of the kindergarten fundraising committee, connects with crowd about protecting our children

GLENVIEW, Ill.—On May 1, more than 100 members of the Chicago community joined the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) Chicago Zabelle Chapter at the Armenian All Saints Apostolic Church in Glenview, to support the ARS in re-building the Soseh Kindergarten in Stepanakert into a state of the art facility.

Angele Manoogian delivering her address

The Mistress of Ceremonies for the event, Ungerouhi Nairee Hagopian, a member of the Zabelle Chapter executive board, welcomed the crowd and clergy, the Very Reverend Father Ghevont Pentezian of All Saints Armenian Church in Glenview, and acknowledged representatives from the Church Board of Trustees and sister community organizations present. Hagopian set the tone for the event by associating an early celebration of Mother’s Day and the strength and tenacity of Armenian women and mothers with the love that it takes to help children in need. Hagopian affirmed that it is women like Sose Mayrig and Zabel Yesayan that inspire the instinct to protect and preserve our children and future.

(L to R) Very Reverend Ghevont Pentezian, the new Hayr Sourp of the Armenian All Saints Apostolic Church in Glenview Ill.; Nairee Hagopian, Zabelle chapter Executive Board corresponding secretary; Lesa Zakarian, Zabelle chapter Executive Board treasurer; Taleen Aivazian, Zabelle chapter Executive Board recording secretary; and Arpy Seferian, ARS chapter Executive Board chairperson

Ungerouhis Marie Khatcherian and Lucine Tokmakjian opened the program by singing the national anthem of the United States and the ARS anthem. Hayr Pentezian delivered the Invocation.

Before Manoogian’s keynote, attendees were privileged to a short cultural program which included a poem recitation by Areney Tokmajian, written by her grandmother Asdghik Makakian Tokmajian; Haroutiun Kendimian and Lucine Tokmajian performing “Mayrigis” (music by Khatchadour Avedian and words by Silva Gabudigian); and lastly, Hamazkayin Sardarabad Dancers Sevana Papazian, Sose Papazian, and Saro Aroyan performing the dances “Namak Namak” and “Sardarabad.”

Some of the guests

Following a video presentation on the reconstruction project which recalled the disrepair of the original building housing the kindergarten and the ARS Central Executive Board’s decision to embark on this massive plan, Ungerouhi Angele Manoogian impassioned the crowd toward surpassing a $10,000 goal for the Soseh Kindergarten. Manoogian’s own zeal was contagious. She energized generous spirits by declaring, “All of us are forever connected with our beloved Homeland and its people with unbreakable ties. That as Armenians, we have the moral duty to serve Armenia and its children.” She continued, “There can be no doubt whatsoever that Artsakh, with all its liberated territories, is an inseparable part of our Homeland and diaspora and we are forever united with a common destiny.”

Lastly, the evening concluded with the announcement that more than $16,000 had been raised to benefit this most important project.

By Jennifer Chelebi

The annual HMADS Gala Dinner Dance is the highlight of the Friends of HMADS yearly social calendar. It’s a special time to celebrate the start of spring and applaud the accomplishments of our dedicated HMADS staff and flourishing students.

North Hills Country Club in Manhasset, New York, once again sets a lush and vibrant backdrop for an incredible night of dinner and dancing on May 21. We invite you all to join our family and friends for what will surely be an elegant and unforgettable evening with a lively raffle and beautiful music.

The festivities will begin at 7:30 p.m. with a bountiful cocktail hour, followed by a delicious multi-course dinner served at 9 p.m. Dance the night away to the talented vocals provided by international talent, Bartev. An accomplished guitarist and vocalist he has been invited many times to perform in the United States, Canada, Australia, many European countries and homeland Armenia. He has also participated in the Armenian radio hours in Sydney, Paris, New York and Vancouver to share his knowledge and passion in Armenian music. Bartev is the recipient of Ormanyan Medal by Vicar General of the Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul in 2014 and Medal of Honor from Hranush Hakobyan, Minister of the Diaspora of Armenia for his dedication to Armenian music.

The Friends Committee has encouraged and coordinated fundraising activities since 1994, with unprecedented support from the greater Armenian community. Attendance at the gala will significantly support the efforts of the Friends Committee and HMADS, thus benefiting the worthwhile cause that is the preservation of Armenian culture through future generations.

For further information about this highly anticipated event, or to find out how to become a part of the Friends of HMADS, contact the school office at (718) 225-4826, Siran Saroyan at (718) 224-0121, or Siragan Varolian at (718) 631-7131.

Poghosyan’s program, “Folk Inspirations,” Included Works by Grieg, Liszt, Komitas Vardapet, and Stravinsky

NEW YORK, N.Y.—The Armenian-American pianist Kariné Poghosyan  performed a premier concert  on Saturday, April 30, at 7:30 p.m. at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) in New Haven, Conn.  Poghosyan’s recital, inspired by folk songs and titled “Folk Inspirations,” began with Edvard Grieg’s “Three Selections” from “Lyric Pieces – To Spring, Minuet: Vanished Days and Wedding Day at Troldhaugen”—followed by “Three Hungarian Rhapsodies” by Franz Liszt.  Poghosyan also featured a work by Komitas Vardapet, the revered Armenian composer, playing his rarely heard “Six Dances for Piano” from 1906.  The program ended with three movements from Stravinsky’s “Petrouchka”—“Danse Russe,” “Chez Petrouchka,” and “La Semaine Grasse.”

Kariné Poghosyan

Dr. Craig Hlavac, associate professor and chairperson of the Department of Music at Southern Connecticut University said, “Poghosyan’s performance was as powerful as it was musical; she was aptly able to convey the emotions of the repertoire with precision and finesse.  Her interpretations of this complex music were nuanced and clearly demonstrative of her deep understanding of the history of these important works. Kariné is a true virtuoso—it is clear she is a rising star in the piano world.”

Johnes Ruta, Independent Curator of New Haven’s Azoth Gallery, also commented, “Kariné Poghosyan’s premier performance at Southern Connecticut State University on Saturday [April 30] brought elegance to the grand piano at Charles Garner Recital Hall. True to her immense talent and power-filled style, dressed in a gorgeous white ball-gown, Ms. Poghosyan’s performances of each piece were inspired, creative, and visionary interpretations of four works by Grieg, Liszt, Komitas Vardapet, and Stravinsky.  The common thread of her selections seems to reflect and visualize the landscape of her own Armenian origins, somehow conveying to the mind’s eye the beautiful topography and soul of mountains, hills, valleys, plains, and towns.  In her selections from Vardapet’s ‘Six Dances for Piano,’ by this somewhat unfamiliar composer to the West, Kariné portrays terrains of lyricism and sublime mystery.”

The Armenian pianist Kariné Poghosyan has been praised for her ability to get to the heart of the works she performs.  She made her orchestral debut at 14 playing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1, and her solo Carnegie Hall debut at 23, and has since gone on to win numerous awards as well as performing in some of the world’s most prestigious concert halls.  Recently, she helped organize the “Requiem and Resurrection” concert in commemoration of the 95th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide at the Saint Vartan Armenian Cathedral in New York.  During the 2014-15 season, Poghosyan made her Washington D.C. debut, in addition to her Toronto, Canada debut where she gave the Canadian premiere of Alan Hovhaness’s Piano Concerto “Lousadzak.” Other performance highlights included solo recitals in Montgomery, New York, and Richmond, Virginia, as well as performing Khachaturian’s Piano Concerto with the Greater Newburgh (N.Y.) Symphony.  Poghosyan’s musical studies began in her native Yerevan in Armenia, continuing at Romanos Melikian College and the Komitas State Conservatory.  After moving to the United States in 1998, she received her BM, summa cum laude, from California State University in Northridge and her MM and D.M.A. degrees at Manhattan School of Music under Arkady Aronov, completing her D.M.A. in a record-breaking two years with a thesis on Aram Khachaturian’s works for piano.  Her CD, “Khachaturian Original Piano Works and Ballet Transcriptions,” was released in April 2015 on the NAXOS label to rave reviews. Most recently, Poghosyan was interviewed by radio host David Osenberg and heard on his award-winning program Cadenza aired and webcast on WWFM.  She is currently based in New York where she teaches at Manhattan School of Music.

Kariné Poghosyan will be performing her “Folk Inspirations” program featuring the music of Grieg, Liszt, Komitas Vardapet and Stravinsky on Sun., May 22, at 7 p.m. at New York City’s DiMenna Center (located at 450 West 37th Street).  This program will be given as part of the Project 142 Concert Series.  Tickets are priced at $35; $20 for students and seniors.  For information, visit www.project142.org.

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—On March 24, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) announced that Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope’s one-hour special “Digging into the Future-Armenia” received an Emmy nomination for outstanding special class directing. The television special was sponsored by AGBU and the Kazanjian Foundation. “We are very proud to have been able to contribute to this project and grateful to the Travelscope team for having raised more awareness about the cultural history of the Armenian people,” said Lara Messerlian, AGBU communications consultant, who represented the organization at the 43rd Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on May 1.

On March 24, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) announced that Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope’s one-hour special Digging into the Future—Armenia received an Emmy nomination for outstanding special class directing.

Digging into the Future, a new archeology series from the Emmy-award winning producers of Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope merges archeology’s science and humanity into an hour-long educational and cultural adventure that spans the globe from the Americas to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Rosendo uses a people’s cultural artifacts as clues, joining archeologists from UCLA’s Cotsen Institute on worldwide explorations.

In his Armenia special, first premiered in 2015, Joseph criss-crosses Armenia to ancient sites where some of the world’s oldest artifacts have been discovered. Every site offers the viewers insights into how the Armenians of the distant and near past lived. From roadside fruit stands to riverside wine stalls and bustling markets, Joseph is welcomed into local homes to witness traditional artisans at work and join in religious and communal celebrations that inspire, enlighten and reveal the Armenian heart and soul.

“I am thrilled that our productions have once again received recognition from the Television Academy,” said Joseph Rosendo. “Our Travelscope team works long and hard to create the best television possible for our viewers. We are thankful for the opportunity provided for us by American Public Television (APT) and PBS. It is particularly gratifying that Digging into the Future, our archaeology-themed special on Armenia, was recognized. The Emmy nomination for “Digging,” as well as Joseph Rosendo’s Travelscope, reinforces our belief that when you are dedicated to quality, it is evident in whatever you attempt.” The production team is interested in filming more episodes in Armenia and is looking for sponsors and plan to develop the show into a series.

For more information on “Digging Into the Future,” please visit http://www.travelscope.net/schedule/digging-into-the-future

By Arpy Voskeridjian Minasian

CHELTENHAM, Pa.—On Sun., April 24, hundreds gathered at Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church in Cheltenham to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. The program sponsored by the Armenian Inter-Communal Committee of Philadelphia celebrated the theme “Together for Armenia” and featured world renowned pianist Şahan Arzruni.

Pianist Şahan Arzruni (Photo: Alec Balian)

Arzruni captivated the audience with his beautiful selection of pieces by Kristapor Kara-Mourza, Komitas, Aram Khatchadourian, Arno Babadjanian, and Alan Hovhannes. Spectators traveled with Arzruni through a recent history of Armenian composers and their works. As his fingers brushed the keys they meditated on times gone by, and the saga of the Armenian people. Before playing selections from each of the famous composers, Arzruni shared anecdotes about their lives allowing the journey to feel complete. Each composer’s musical genius permeated the room as Arzruni revived their compositions. “Shoror of Moush” by Komitas captured the essence of Armenian folk music allowing the audience to revel in the daily life of the Armenian villager. All were mesmerized by Arno Babadjanian’s Elegy (after Sayat Nova) and were delighted by the “Potpourri on Armenian Songs” by Kristapor Kara-Mourza. “Yenovk” by Alan Hovhaness was equally entertaining and enchanting. It was however with Arzruni’s finale of Aram Khatchaturian’s “Toccata” that the fortitude and resilience of the Armenian people was symbolized. Each stroke of the keys, each chord that was played echoed the struggle and survival of the Armenian people.

Students of the Armenian Sisters Academy singing Armenian songs (Photo: Alec Balian)

Arzruni is not only revered as a recitalist and chamber music partner but, he has also received recognition and acclaim as a composer, ethnomusicologist, teacher, lecturer, writer, broadcast personality, and impressionist. He has appeared on numerous broadcasts with Johnny Carson, Mike Douglas and has performed as well with Victor Borge. In 1996, he received an encyclical and Sts. Sahag and Mesrob medallion from His Holiness Karekin I. This year, he was awarded the Movses Khorenatsi Presidential Medal for promoting cultural ties between Armenia and the Diaspora. The Philadelphia Armenian community was truly honored to have Mr. Arzruni share in the commemoration of the 101st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

A small part of the program was dedicated to the youth of our community. The audience was thrilled to enjoy a vocal performance by the students of the Armenian Sisters Academy (Radnor, Pa.). Guided by the principal Sr. Emma Moussayan, their Armenian teacher Mrs. Tamar Panosian, and under the direction of their music teacher Karinné Andonian, the students delighted spectators with “Dzidzernagin Pouynuh” by Gh. Aghayian and Parsegh Ganachian and “Soorperoo Atchker” by Martin Aharonyan. Hearing the beautiful voices of the students of the Armenian Sisters Academy singing Armenian songs was a wonderful reminder that the Philadelphia community is fortunate to have such an incredible institution in their midst. The students are reminders that our history is our foundation, and that our culture and language keeps us unified. The Armenian Sisters Academy stands as a beacon, developing mind, body and spirit of generations of Armenian youth. And, as it forges ahead vigorously, it cultivates the next generation of leaders for the Armenian nation.

Guests at the event (Photo: Alec Balian)

The Philadelphia Armenian community celebrates a unique attribute. The Inter-Communal Committee consists of representatives from the five area churches, their clergy and the Armenian Sisters Academy. Throughout the year this committee plans three events for the Philadelphia area that bring the entire community together to celebrate Cultural Month and Vartanantz and to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. When the entire community is encouraged to unify their efforts wonderful things are accomplished. “Together for Armenia” featuring Şahan Arzruni is an example of such an occasion. In appreciation of Mr. Arzruni’s performance the committee will make a donation to the Vanadzor Old Age Home in Armenia. This home is sponsored by the Arzruni family, providing care to over 40 individuals. The Armenian Inter-Communal Committee was honored to host this superb event and was thrilled to showcase Şahan Arzruni’s phenomenal talents. The audience truly enjoyed a wonderful program and the committee thanks Mr. Arzruni for his riveting performance, reminding all those present about the musical giants the Armenian people have produced. Indeed, on Sunday, April 24th music soothed the soul of the Philadelphia Armenian Community.

Arpy Voskeridjian Minasian is vice-chair of the Armenian Inter-Communal Committee of Philadelphia.

Najarian to Read at Frost Farm June 17 

DERRY, N.H.—The Trustees of the Robert Frost Farm in Derry, N.H., and the Hyla Brook Poets announced that the winner of the 6th Annual Frost Farm Prize for metrical poetry is James Najarian of Auburndale, Mass., for his blank verse poem, “The Dark Ages.”

James Najarian (Photo: Lee Pellegrini)

The prize was judged by David J. Rothman, Director of Western State Colorado University’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing. Najarian receives $1,000, and publication in The Evansville Review. He will also be a featured reader at the Hyla Brook Reading Series at the Robert Frost Farm in Derry, on Fri., June 17, at 7 p.m. The reading kicks off the second annual Frost Farm Poetry Conference (June 17-19).

“‘The Dark Ages’ participates in what has become, over the last several decades, a recognizable sub-genre of the elegy, even if it is an elegy of death-in-life: the Alzheimer’s poem. This poem differs from all others on this theme I have ever read, however, in its successful use of an extended metaphor, in which the poet implicitly compares the mother’s loss of memory to the aftermath of the Roman departure from Britain. The poem’s six stanzas of blank verse, each nine lines long, alternate starkly between painfully clear-eyed description of the mother’s decline, and comparably evocative reimagining of the advent of ‘the dark ages,’ with the loss of wine and oil, the abandonment of towns, the vanishing of nails and so on,” said Rothman about Najarian’s poem, adding, “The result of such a strategy might have seemed predictable, but with an unsentimental eloquence and restraint that only make the unstated pain and loss that much more powerful, the poet never rhetorically asserts the connection between the alternating sections, but simply lets them stand and resonate with each other until the personal and the historical merge in ways that illuminate both. This is compelling, masterful work, not only technically adroit but also thematically fierce and focused, and emotionally profound: an intense yet also measured depiction of destruction and grief.”

Rothman went on, “With more than 600 entries, this year’s submissions to the Frost Farm Prize for Metrical Poetry presented a tremendous range of subjects, themes, tones, styles and techniques. After spending many hours with them, my overwhelming impression is that hundreds upon hundreds of poets continue to care about craft.”

Najarian grew up on a goat farm near Kempton, Pennsylvania. He teaches nineteenth-century poetry and prose at Boston College, where he directs the Ph.D. program in English and edits the scholarly journal Religion and the Arts. His poetry has been published in West Branch, Christianity and Literature, Tar River Poetry, Southern Poetry Review, The Literary Imagination, and other journals. He also published a scholarly monograph, Victorian Keats, with Palgrave Macmillan. His manuscript of poems, An Introduction to the Devout Life, has made finalist several times at volume contests, and is seeking a publisher.

The judge read all 646 anonymous entries and, in addition to selecting the winner, chose six poems for special recognition as Finalists and Honorable Mentions:

Finalists 

“Julia Hungry” by Hannah Poston of Ann Arbor, Mich.

“The Chromatist” by Aaron Poochigian of New York, N.Y.

“Crush” by Brian Brodeur of Richmond, Ind.

Honorable Mentions

“Memento” by Catherine Chandler, Saint-Lazare, Quebec, Canada

“Black Impala” by Jon Volkmer of Telford, Pa.

“The Undersigned” by Aaron Poochigian of New York, N.Y.

About Frost Farm Poetry

Frost Farm Poetry’s mission is to support the writing and reading of poetry, especially metrical poetry. The Hyla Brook Poets started in 2008 as a monthly poetry workshop. In March 2009, the monthly Hyla Brook Reading Series launched with readings by emerging poets as well as luminaries such as Maxine Kumin, Sharon Olds and Richard Blanco. From there, the Frost Farm Poetry Prize for metrical poetry was introduced in 2010, with the Frost Farm Poetry Conference beginning in 2015.

The hashtag #ArstsakhStrong was recently spread far and shared widely when the sons and citizens of Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh Republic/NKR) defended bravely against Azerbaijan’s violent incursion onto Armenian sovereign territory in April. With the National Assembly’s May 5, appointment of Ruben Melikyan as the Republic of Artsakh’s new Ombudsman/Human Rights Defender, Artsakh has now become even stronger.

For many years, Melikyan has anchored the Armenian Bar Association’s (ABA) initiatives and interests in the Republic of Armenia, primarily with ground-breaking work designed to advance the rule of law and judicial ethics and transparency.  On the flip side, he has been the centerpiece of the Association’s legal panels and presentations at its national and international conferences in the diaspora.  A true legal prodigy, before even reaching the age of 30, Melikyan’s portfolio of commitment includes a professorship at Yerevan State University’s Faculty of Law, Deputy Justice Minister of the Republic of Armenia, and Rector of Armenia’s Justice Academy.  While others in his generation have sought professional and personal prosperity beyond Armenia’s borders, he has found solace and satisfaction only in the shadow of Mt. Ararat and now at ground zero in the Mountainous Republic of Artsakh.

Within the last few months, the Armenian Bar Association has redoubled its efforts—going as far as amending its mission statement—to help pave the way for worldwide recognition of Artsakh as an independent country, entitled under applicable international law to the protections and responsibilities of a sovereign nation.  In 2015, while leading the Justice Academy in Yerevan, Melikyan received an Armenian Bar delegation comprised of Board Members Armen K. Hovannisian and Garo Ghazarian, and members Judge Zaven Sinanian, Steve Dadaian, and Raffi Sarrafian to embolden the advancement of Armenia’s legal profession and public interest.  Hitting the ground running on his first day on the job, Melikyan has already initiated plans to petition international tribunals in light of Azerbaijan’s violations of its own laws and international norms when it unilaterally attacked, murdered, and mutilated Artsakh’s non-combatant citizens.  “These atrocities should be condemned and the international community should give an appropriate response.  There is enough evidence of grave wrongdoings, which we will marshal and present, for which Azerbaijan must be held accountable,” said Melikyan.

Armenian Rights Watch Committee – ARWC

Armenian Bar Association

By Robert Dulgarian

The opening of the centenary of the Armenian Genocide saw an extraordinary wave of commemorations. Lectures, symposia, exhibitions, concerts, marches, petitions, and book publications created a surge of interest that extended beyond Armenian communities to engage the interest of mainstream media perhaps more highly than at any time since the 1920’s. The closing of the year-long period has been more muted; the hopes for breakthroughs on recognition, never strongly entertained, continue to be deferred, while events on the eastern and western borders of the Armenian Republic and Artsakh suggest a darker near future than Armenians had dared to hope for in April 2015. Yet the Armenian cause lives on, strengthened on many fronts by new voices.

The Erevan Choral Society performing

The Erevan Choral Society’s Concert, “In Commemoration of Our Sainted Martyrs of 1915,” was held in the sanctuary of the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church in Cambridge, Mass., on April 17. The former pastor of Holy Trinity, Fr. Mampre A. Kouzouian, opened the program with an eloquent evocation of the dire situation in Artsakh.

The extremely able keyboardist Nune Hakobyan performed on organ. Guest soloist David Ayriyan on kamancha, backed by Composer Konstantin Petrossian, music director and conductor on organ, thrilled the audience with a rendition of the traditional “Odar Amayee” and “Dle Yaman” that were breathtaking in their combination of complex ornamentation and exquisitely modulated tone. Mezzo-soprano Gohar Manjelikian’s moving rendition of the Gomidas “Karoon a” picked up the link between folk and composed traditions, while her rendition of “Tsaghkir Hayrenik” by Yervand Yerznkyan, a world premiere, demonstrated her ample range. Composer Petrossian once again demonstrated his compositional fecundity with the choral “Vartanants Aspetner” while such relatively recent favorites as Krikor Pidedjian’s setting of Kevork Emin’s “Der Zor,” Armen Smbatyan’s “Hayastan,” and Composer Petrossian’s haunting and lyrical arrangement of “Akh, Vaspourakan” elicited an enthusiastic response.

Also reprising an innovation from the April 2015 Genocide Centennial Concert was a series of moving recitations of such giants of the modern Armenian repertoire as Baruyr Sevag, Eghishe Charents, and Hovhannes Tumanyan by senior Holy Trinity Armenian School students Adelaida Balagyozyan, Anna Margaryan, Anush Kirakosyan, and Amalia Petrosyan, as well as their younger colleagues Leila Belubekian, Marina and Lusine Gyulkhasyan, and Mary Gyulumyan. Interspersed with the musical numbers, the students’ readings testified to the intertwined aspirations of Armenian music and letters so notable in the last century, a fate that will inevitably continue to be shared.

By its nature, a commemorative concert reflects upon those who have left us. Since April 24, 2015, the victims of the Genocide have been recognized as sainted martyrs, witnesses to faith and nation whose celestial testimony will live on eternally; to them, voices are raised in prayer and gratitude.

The concert was dedicated to His Eminence Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian of blessed memory. The Armenian community lost the one-time pastor of Holy Trinity and later Primate of the United Kingdom. No more will Yeghishe Srpazan’s voice thunder in thrilling benediction. He was an indefatigable supporter, not only of Erevan Choral Society, but of all sorts of Armenian ministry, culture, and outreach and “a true spiritual father to his people,” as Fr. Vasken A. Kouzouian, pastor of Holy Trinity, so aptly named him. His example, and that of beloved departed founder of the Erevan Choral Society, the Very Rev. Fr. Oshagan Minassian (d. 2008), live on in the work of their epigones such as Fr. Vasken and Composer Petrossian who labor, in their turn, to pass the torch of Armenian culture on to the future, for all of our sakes.

Haig Hovsepian (Photo: Jirair Hovseptian)

BELMONT, Mass.—In April, Massachusetts-based violinist Haig Hovsepian became a Laureate II Degree by winning 2nd place in the string instruments/violin category at the “Renaissance” VIII International Contest-Festival in Gyumri, Armenia. This year there were 3,000 participants from 36 countries with around 200 violinists. This competition/festival, which has been drawing international attention, is the only competition of its kind in the Republic of Armenia.  There were contestants who participated from as far away as China.

Hovsepian is a student at Belmont High School and plays saxophone in the Wind Ensemble and the Jazz Band. He attends New England Conservatory (NEC) Preparatory School studying violin with Lynn Chang and Xiang Yu, and Sam Ou in chamber. Hovsepian is a member of the NEC Youth Philharmonic Orchestra (YPO) and chamber groups.

On June 4, Hovsepian, as the winner of the 2016 NEC Concerto Competition, will be the featured soloist with the YPO, performing the complete three movements of Khachaturian’s Violin Concerto in E minor at Jordan Hall in Boston, Mass. The concert, which starts at 8 p.m., is open to the public.