Tweet
HYEAID CONCERT YIELDS RESULTS FOR SYRIAN-ARMENIAN RELIEF
BY RITA HINTLIAN
http://asbarez.com/106573/hyeaid-concert-yields-results-for-syrian-armenian-relief/
Thursday, November 15th, 2012
Featured musicians perform a group finale at HyeAid Concert to benefit
Syrian-Armenian Relief Fund
PASADENA-Veteran's Day 2012 will be forever imprinted in the minds of
almost 3,000 people who attended the HyeAID benefit concert to help
the Armenian community in Syria at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in
Pasadena, California.
The artists from local and as far away as Armenia, England and France
literally rocked the house and the audience, young and old, responded.
They were moved with the songs of sorrow, longing and anguish, and
laughed at the comedic remarks of the artists, who switched to upbeat
songs to cheer up the audience.
The variety program started with the classics performed by the Hi-Am
Quartet. Throughout the program, scenes of destruction of homes,
schools, stores, homes for the elderly, group home for children, and
churches, including the Armenian Genocide memorial church complex in
Der Zor, were shared with the audience.
Syrian Armenian Relief Fund (SARF) Executive Committee Chairperson,
Zaven Khanjian, spoke on behalf of the 10 organizations that make
up SARF. Western Prelate Arch. Moushegh Mardirossian, Diocese former
Primate Arch. Vache Hovsepian, Rev. Fr. Krikor Chahinian, and Rev.
Jospeh Matossian represented their churches, also present was
the Prelate of Damascus, Bishop Armash Nalbandian. In addition,
Counsel General of the Republic of Armenia, Grigor Hovhannissian,
Avedik Izmirlian of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Central
Committee, Vazken Khodanian of the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party,
Armenian Relief Society Central Executive Chairperson Vicky Marashlian
and member Ani Keshishian, and Western U.S.A. Regional Executive
Lena Bozoyan, and Armenian General Benevolent Union representative
Tomig Alexanian. Also present was Heritage Party Chairperson Raffi
Hovhannisian.
The concert was organized in association with Artists for Kids.
Khanjian's upbeat message reaffirmed that the Syrian Armenian
community will prevail, it will resurrect and it will resume it's
role as the overflowing mother of all Diaspora Communities. Showing
very old photo of very young scouts marching on the sports field,
his poetic message was that the young scouts will return. He invited
three students, representing their schools, which collected donations
as Grand Sponsors of the event, along with Karoun Dairies, represented
by Antranig Baghdassarian.
Aleeque Marselian from Vahan and Anoush Chamlian Armenian School,
Tamar Gharibian from Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School, and
Eddie Hovhannesian from Holy Martyrs Ferrahian High School, also
representing Cabayan Elementery School, handed the checks from their
respective schools. Armineh Khatchatourian, Chamlian Board Chair;
Rita Kaprielian, Vice Principal of Chamlian; Dr. Alina Dorian,
Principal of Pilibos; and John Kossakian, Principal of Ferrahian were
present, along with many students, faculty members and administrators,
collectively showing that the youth have taken the lead in lending a
hand to their less fortunate compatriots in Syria. Khanjian read the
thank you letter sent by Arch. Shahan Sarkissian, Prelate of Aleppo,
on behalf of the three denominations and the community. It is hoped
that $250,000, raised from this concert and other fundraising events,
will be forwarded in the near future.
The ethno-rock group, Element Band, continued the program with soloist
Soseh Keshishyan. Element Band members also individually accompanied
some of the vocalists, who followed them later during the program.
An 89-year old young soloist Souren Khavejian, who was originally from
Syria, was accompanied on the accordion by Ara Dabandjian. The Dirty
Diamond, an LA-Based band performed next, with Sam Babayan with the
lead vocalist on the guitar. They were followed by Charming Liars,
who flew from London. Their guitarist, Karnig Manoukian, expressed
his excitement in sharing the stage with so many fantastic artists.
The youth were present once again, as Armen Movsisyan appeared, and
then was joined by his Guitar Studio students. The VIZA band was next,
a band for whom contributing what they can is a way of life. Lilit
Pipoyan from Armenia sang and played very moving lyrics on the piano,
then on the guitar.
Actor-director Vahe Berberian, explained that he had a chance to
visit Syria four years ago, and felt their warmth, nationalistic and
welcoming spirit. He urged everyone to assist the Syrian Armenians,
since they are a part of us, and then introduced his idol, Arto
Tuncboyaciyan. Tuncboyaciyan roared the audience with his comedic
jests, remembered the martyr soldiers dying on the Artsakh border,
urged people to act as human beings, not make bad things happen due to
their greediness, and speak about problems, lest they fester forever.
A group of young singers accompanies him and once again, the youth
outnumbered the adults.
TV personality and journalist Arshalouys Tarpinian applauded the
high level of artistry during the program, praised the audience for
supporting the benefit concert and quoted from Karekin Njdeh regarding
the success of our endeavors with collective responsibility. She
introduced composer Ruben Hakhverdyan. Hakhverdyan was eager to explain
the truth about the Armenian spirit, flexible yet protective of its
culture and values. He explained that we hyphenate our Armenian-ism,
but the Syrian Armenians are just us, our people.
Producer-Director Carla Garabedian observed that we stand in solidarity
with our brothers and sisters in Syria, and introduced the father
and son team, Khatchadoor and Serj Tankian, who performed next.
Serj Tankian remarked that "all the artists that played tonight
were incredible."
The curtains closed after one more song with all the vocalists
on the stage, a nostalgic song about longing and being home-sick,
"Tercheyi Mdkov".
Following the concert, Aram Alajajian, of the Artists for Kids,
thanked all the participating artists, and remarked that this was
"the greatest event we ever put together. It was really a crown."
The crisis in Syria continues. Contributions can be mailed to Syrian
Armenian Relief Fund, P.O. Box 1948, Glendale, CA 91209-1948 or by
credit card at www.SyrianArmenianReliefFund.org.
The San Francisco community will hold a benefit concert on Sunday,
November 18, 2012 at 5 pm, at the Khachaturian Armenian Community
Center, Saroyan Hall, 825 Brotherhood Way, San Francisco, CA (the
cost of admission is $25).
The following churches, charities and organizations came together
to form the Syrian Armenian Relief Fund: Armenian Catholic Eparchy
in North America; Armenian Evangelical Union of North America;
Western Diocese of the Armenian Church; Western Prelacy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of America; Armenian General Benevolent
Union; Armenian Missionary Association of America; Armenian Relief
Society of Western U.S.A.; Armenian Democratic Liberal Party; Armenian
Revolutionary Federation-Western U.S.A.; and Social Democrat Hunchakian
Party-Western U.S.A.
BY RITA HINTLIAN
http://asbarez.com/106573/hyeaid-concert-yields-results-for-syrian-armenian-relief/
Thursday, November 15th, 2012
Featured musicians perform a group finale at HyeAid Concert to benefit
Syrian-Armenian Relief Fund
PASADENA-Veteran's Day 2012 will be forever imprinted in the minds of
almost 3,000 people who attended the HyeAID benefit concert to help
the Armenian community in Syria at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in
Pasadena, California.
The artists from local and as far away as Armenia, England and France
literally rocked the house and the audience, young and old, responded.
They were moved with the songs of sorrow, longing and anguish, and
laughed at the comedic remarks of the artists, who switched to upbeat
songs to cheer up the audience.
The variety program started with the classics performed by the Hi-Am
Quartet. Throughout the program, scenes of destruction of homes,
schools, stores, homes for the elderly, group home for children, and
churches, including the Armenian Genocide memorial church complex in
Der Zor, were shared with the audience.
Syrian Armenian Relief Fund (SARF) Executive Committee Chairperson,
Zaven Khanjian, spoke on behalf of the 10 organizations that make
up SARF. Western Prelate Arch. Moushegh Mardirossian, Diocese former
Primate Arch. Vache Hovsepian, Rev. Fr. Krikor Chahinian, and Rev.
Jospeh Matossian represented their churches, also present was
the Prelate of Damascus, Bishop Armash Nalbandian. In addition,
Counsel General of the Republic of Armenia, Grigor Hovhannissian,
Avedik Izmirlian of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Central
Committee, Vazken Khodanian of the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party,
Armenian Relief Society Central Executive Chairperson Vicky Marashlian
and member Ani Keshishian, and Western U.S.A. Regional Executive
Lena Bozoyan, and Armenian General Benevolent Union representative
Tomig Alexanian. Also present was Heritage Party Chairperson Raffi
Hovhannisian.
The concert was organized in association with Artists for Kids.
Khanjian's upbeat message reaffirmed that the Syrian Armenian
community will prevail, it will resurrect and it will resume it's
role as the overflowing mother of all Diaspora Communities. Showing
very old photo of very young scouts marching on the sports field,
his poetic message was that the young scouts will return. He invited
three students, representing their schools, which collected donations
as Grand Sponsors of the event, along with Karoun Dairies, represented
by Antranig Baghdassarian.
Aleeque Marselian from Vahan and Anoush Chamlian Armenian School,
Tamar Gharibian from Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School, and
Eddie Hovhannesian from Holy Martyrs Ferrahian High School, also
representing Cabayan Elementery School, handed the checks from their
respective schools. Armineh Khatchatourian, Chamlian Board Chair;
Rita Kaprielian, Vice Principal of Chamlian; Dr. Alina Dorian,
Principal of Pilibos; and John Kossakian, Principal of Ferrahian were
present, along with many students, faculty members and administrators,
collectively showing that the youth have taken the lead in lending a
hand to their less fortunate compatriots in Syria. Khanjian read the
thank you letter sent by Arch. Shahan Sarkissian, Prelate of Aleppo,
on behalf of the three denominations and the community. It is hoped
that $250,000, raised from this concert and other fundraising events,
will be forwarded in the near future.
The ethno-rock group, Element Band, continued the program with soloist
Soseh Keshishyan. Element Band members also individually accompanied
some of the vocalists, who followed them later during the program.
An 89-year old young soloist Souren Khavejian, who was originally from
Syria, was accompanied on the accordion by Ara Dabandjian. The Dirty
Diamond, an LA-Based band performed next, with Sam Babayan with the
lead vocalist on the guitar. They were followed by Charming Liars,
who flew from London. Their guitarist, Karnig Manoukian, expressed
his excitement in sharing the stage with so many fantastic artists.
The youth were present once again, as Armen Movsisyan appeared, and
then was joined by his Guitar Studio students. The VIZA band was next,
a band for whom contributing what they can is a way of life. Lilit
Pipoyan from Armenia sang and played very moving lyrics on the piano,
then on the guitar.
Actor-director Vahe Berberian, explained that he had a chance to
visit Syria four years ago, and felt their warmth, nationalistic and
welcoming spirit. He urged everyone to assist the Syrian Armenians,
since they are a part of us, and then introduced his idol, Arto
Tuncboyaciyan. Tuncboyaciyan roared the audience with his comedic
jests, remembered the martyr soldiers dying on the Artsakh border,
urged people to act as human beings, not make bad things happen due to
their greediness, and speak about problems, lest they fester forever.
A group of young singers accompanies him and once again, the youth
outnumbered the adults.
TV personality and journalist Arshalouys Tarpinian applauded the
high level of artistry during the program, praised the audience for
supporting the benefit concert and quoted from Karekin Njdeh regarding
the success of our endeavors with collective responsibility. She
introduced composer Ruben Hakhverdyan. Hakhverdyan was eager to explain
the truth about the Armenian spirit, flexible yet protective of its
culture and values. He explained that we hyphenate our Armenian-ism,
but the Syrian Armenians are just us, our people.
Producer-Director Carla Garabedian observed that we stand in solidarity
with our brothers and sisters in Syria, and introduced the father
and son team, Khatchadoor and Serj Tankian, who performed next.
Serj Tankian remarked that "all the artists that played tonight
were incredible."
The curtains closed after one more song with all the vocalists
on the stage, a nostalgic song about longing and being home-sick,
"Tercheyi Mdkov".
Following the concert, Aram Alajajian, of the Artists for Kids,
thanked all the participating artists, and remarked that this was
"the greatest event we ever put together. It was really a crown."
The crisis in Syria continues. Contributions can be mailed to Syrian
Armenian Relief Fund, P.O. Box 1948, Glendale, CA 91209-1948 or by
credit card at www.SyrianArmenianReliefFund.org.
The San Francisco community will hold a benefit concert on Sunday,
November 18, 2012 at 5 pm, at the Khachaturian Armenian Community
Center, Saroyan Hall, 825 Brotherhood Way, San Francisco, CA (the
cost of admission is $25).
The following churches, charities and organizations came together
to form the Syrian Armenian Relief Fund: Armenian Catholic Eparchy
in North America; Armenian Evangelical Union of North America;
Western Diocese of the Armenian Church; Western Prelacy of the
Armenian Apostolic Church of America; Armenian General Benevolent
Union; Armenian Missionary Association of America; Armenian Relief
Society of Western U.S.A.; Armenian Democratic Liberal Party; Armenian
Revolutionary Federation-Western U.S.A.; and Social Democrat Hunchakian
Party-Western U.S.A.