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PRESS RELEASE
Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR)
Press Office
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849
email: [email protected]
web: www.farusa.org
_________________________
College Student Raises $10,000 for FAR through Music
A magnificent concert - the first of its kind - commemorating the 1915 Armenian
Genocide, as well as raising money for the charitable organization Fund for Armenian
Relief (FAR), took place at Seelos Theater at the College of the Holy Cross on Sunday,
April 19, 2009. The concert, featuring father-daughter duo Fr. Untzag and Ani Nalbandian,
in addition to the John Berberian Ensemble, was sold-out with 370 people in attendance.
The concert made for a truly historic occasion, serving as the inaugural event of
the Armenian Students' Association (ASA), which was newly founded by Ani Nalbandian,
a College of the Holy Cross senior. What is more, Nalbandian and the other students
involved succeeded in raising upwards $10,000 for Armenia, $7,657.12 of which remains
after expenses, and is being donated to FAR. The money is to specifically benefit
young students and children in Gumri, Armenia, the site of the devastating earthquake
in December 1988.
Included among the audience members was the President of the college, Fr. Michael
McFarland, Society of Jesus, who offered his remarks praising the concert, the students
of the ASA, and concert organizer, Ani Nalbandian. Also in attendance was the Executive
Director of Fund for Armenian Relief, Garnik Nanagoulian, who offered his remarks,
reflecting upon Ani's welcoming statement in which she spoke about the importance
of solidarity among Armenians and non-Armenians alike in helping the people of Armenia.
Local members of the Worcester and neighboring Armenian communities also flocked
to this event, including local clergy and members of the Armenian communities in
Worcester, Whitinsville, Framingham, Springfield, Watertown, and even as far as
southwestern CT and NJ. For months leading up to it, the concert was highly publicized
in Armenian and non-Armenian networks, with Ani Nalbandian and John Berberian even
being invited for a guest appearance on the Hank Stolz Show. The Worcester Telegram
& Gazette also conducted a feature story on Ani, John, and the concert, as did
the College of the Holy Cross Public Relations office who posted an on-line video
of an interview with Ani.
For those approximately 150 non-Armenian students, professors, and faculty at the
College of the Holy Cross, the concert was a beautiful introduction to the richness
of Armenian music and language. In letters and emails to Ani, countless many people
relayed their overjoyed feelings during the concert, and how the music and atmosphere
brought them to tears, and even had them stomping their feet with the music!
The musical performances by the Nalbandian duo were all songs, sung solo by either
father or daughter, or jointly. Both Fr. Untzag and Ani played the piano, and Ani
also surprised the audience by playing the accordion, and reciting Baryour Sevag's
poem, "Unlurelee Zankagadoon," ("Unsilenced Belltower") with the familiar tune of
Dle Yaman in the background. In addition, the Nalbandian duo was accompanied by
several highly accomplished student musicians at the College of the Holy Cross,
including: Michael Ferraguto on violin, Justin Rucci on drums, David Sheerin on
piano, and Michael Simms on clarinet. The concert also featured the acclaimed oudist,
John Berberian, and members of his ensemble: Mal Barsamian on clarinet and guitar,
Harry Bedrosian on keyboard, and Bruce Gigarjian on dumbeg. Their selections included
traditional Armenian music, from the melancholy Yeraz to the uplifting Hamest Kourikner
(Tamzara).
To conclude the concert, the last performance was Fr. Untzag and Ani singing the
song Pour Toi, Armenie, which was fitting as the song is one of the many in the
repertoire of French-Armenian singer, Charles Aznavour, and was composed in commemoration
of the victims of the 1988 earthquake in Armenia. The song was also the inspiration
for the title of this benefit concert. Reflecting upon the concert, Ani Nalbandian
remarks, "I believe that we succeeded in achieving something unprecedented that
day. We fostered an atmosphere of sincere interest and compassion at our college
for the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide, and for those who continue to lead
difficult lives in Armenia. More importantly, we did so by bringing together young
and old, non-Armenian students and non-Armenian professors, as well as Armenians
from the nearby and not-so-nearby communities. Never before has such unity of spirit
for Armenia been experienced on this campus." It truly was something special.
# # #
Picture Captions:
Picture 1: Ani Nalbandian, College of the Holy Cross senior, and
concert organizer, singing on stage at the April 19, 2009 concert, Pour Toi, Armenie.
Picture 2: The Nalbandians with College of the Holy Cross faculty, president, and
Executive Director of Fund for Armenian Relief after the concert. From left to right:
Professor Michael West, Dean Earl Peace, Professor Kenneth Prestwich, Fr. Michael
McFarland, S.J., President of the College of the Holy Cross, Barbara Letourneau,
Ani Nalbandian, Professor John Anderson, Fr. Untzag Nalbandian, Yn. Setta Nalbandian,
and Garnik Nanagoulian, Exec. Director of FAR.
About FAR
Since its founding in response to the 1988 earthquake, FAR has served hundreds of
thousands of people through more than 220 relief and development programs in Armenia
and Karabagh. It has channeled more than $265 million in humanitarian assistance
by implementing a wide range of projects including emergency relief, construction,
education, medical aid, and economic development.
For more information on FAR or to send donations, contact us at 630 Second Avenue,
New York, NY 10016; telephone (212) 889-5150; fax (212) 889-4849; http://www.farusa.org;
e-mail [email protected].
-- May 25th, 2008
Fund for Armenian Relief | 630 Second Avenue | New York | NY | 10016
Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR)
Press Office
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849
email: [email protected]
web: www.farusa.org
_________________________
College Student Raises $10,000 for FAR through Music
A magnificent concert - the first of its kind - commemorating the 1915 Armenian
Genocide, as well as raising money for the charitable organization Fund for Armenian
Relief (FAR), took place at Seelos Theater at the College of the Holy Cross on Sunday,
April 19, 2009. The concert, featuring father-daughter duo Fr. Untzag and Ani Nalbandian,
in addition to the John Berberian Ensemble, was sold-out with 370 people in attendance.
The concert made for a truly historic occasion, serving as the inaugural event of
the Armenian Students' Association (ASA), which was newly founded by Ani Nalbandian,
a College of the Holy Cross senior. What is more, Nalbandian and the other students
involved succeeded in raising upwards $10,000 for Armenia, $7,657.12 of which remains
after expenses, and is being donated to FAR. The money is to specifically benefit
young students and children in Gumri, Armenia, the site of the devastating earthquake
in December 1988.
Included among the audience members was the President of the college, Fr. Michael
McFarland, Society of Jesus, who offered his remarks praising the concert, the students
of the ASA, and concert organizer, Ani Nalbandian. Also in attendance was the Executive
Director of Fund for Armenian Relief, Garnik Nanagoulian, who offered his remarks,
reflecting upon Ani's welcoming statement in which she spoke about the importance
of solidarity among Armenians and non-Armenians alike in helping the people of Armenia.
Local members of the Worcester and neighboring Armenian communities also flocked
to this event, including local clergy and members of the Armenian communities in
Worcester, Whitinsville, Framingham, Springfield, Watertown, and even as far as
southwestern CT and NJ. For months leading up to it, the concert was highly publicized
in Armenian and non-Armenian networks, with Ani Nalbandian and John Berberian even
being invited for a guest appearance on the Hank Stolz Show. The Worcester Telegram
& Gazette also conducted a feature story on Ani, John, and the concert, as did
the College of the Holy Cross Public Relations office who posted an on-line video
of an interview with Ani.
For those approximately 150 non-Armenian students, professors, and faculty at the
College of the Holy Cross, the concert was a beautiful introduction to the richness
of Armenian music and language. In letters and emails to Ani, countless many people
relayed their overjoyed feelings during the concert, and how the music and atmosphere
brought them to tears, and even had them stomping their feet with the music!
The musical performances by the Nalbandian duo were all songs, sung solo by either
father or daughter, or jointly. Both Fr. Untzag and Ani played the piano, and Ani
also surprised the audience by playing the accordion, and reciting Baryour Sevag's
poem, "Unlurelee Zankagadoon," ("Unsilenced Belltower") with the familiar tune of
Dle Yaman in the background. In addition, the Nalbandian duo was accompanied by
several highly accomplished student musicians at the College of the Holy Cross,
including: Michael Ferraguto on violin, Justin Rucci on drums, David Sheerin on
piano, and Michael Simms on clarinet. The concert also featured the acclaimed oudist,
John Berberian, and members of his ensemble: Mal Barsamian on clarinet and guitar,
Harry Bedrosian on keyboard, and Bruce Gigarjian on dumbeg. Their selections included
traditional Armenian music, from the melancholy Yeraz to the uplifting Hamest Kourikner
(Tamzara).
To conclude the concert, the last performance was Fr. Untzag and Ani singing the
song Pour Toi, Armenie, which was fitting as the song is one of the many in the
repertoire of French-Armenian singer, Charles Aznavour, and was composed in commemoration
of the victims of the 1988 earthquake in Armenia. The song was also the inspiration
for the title of this benefit concert. Reflecting upon the concert, Ani Nalbandian
remarks, "I believe that we succeeded in achieving something unprecedented that
day. We fostered an atmosphere of sincere interest and compassion at our college
for the victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide, and for those who continue to lead
difficult lives in Armenia. More importantly, we did so by bringing together young
and old, non-Armenian students and non-Armenian professors, as well as Armenians
from the nearby and not-so-nearby communities. Never before has such unity of spirit
for Armenia been experienced on this campus." It truly was something special.
# # #
Picture Captions:
Picture 1: Ani Nalbandian, College of the Holy Cross senior, and
concert organizer, singing on stage at the April 19, 2009 concert, Pour Toi, Armenie.
Picture 2: The Nalbandians with College of the Holy Cross faculty, president, and
Executive Director of Fund for Armenian Relief after the concert. From left to right:
Professor Michael West, Dean Earl Peace, Professor Kenneth Prestwich, Fr. Michael
McFarland, S.J., President of the College of the Holy Cross, Barbara Letourneau,
Ani Nalbandian, Professor John Anderson, Fr. Untzag Nalbandian, Yn. Setta Nalbandian,
and Garnik Nanagoulian, Exec. Director of FAR.
About FAR
Since its founding in response to the 1988 earthquake, FAR has served hundreds of
thousands of people through more than 220 relief and development programs in Armenia
and Karabagh. It has channeled more than $265 million in humanitarian assistance
by implementing a wide range of projects including emergency relief, construction,
education, medical aid, and economic development.
For more information on FAR or to send donations, contact us at 630 Second Avenue,
New York, NY 10016; telephone (212) 889-5150; fax (212) 889-4849; http://www.farusa.org;
e-mail [email protected].
-- May 25th, 2008
Fund for Armenian Relief | 630 Second Avenue | New York | NY | 10016