College student raises $10,000 for FAR through music

Published: Thursday May 28, 2009

Ani Nalbandian, College of the Holy Cross senior, and concert organizer, singing onstage at the April 19, 2009 concert, “Pour Toi, Armenie.”.

Worcester, Mass. - A magnificent concert commemorating the Armenian Genocide and raising money for the Fund for Armenian Relief, took place at Seelos Theater at the College of the Holy Cross on April 19.

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 college's Armenian Students' Association, which was newly founded by Ms. Nalbandian, a senior. What is more, Ms. Nalbandian and the other students involved succeeded in raising upward of $10,000 for Armenia. Fully $7,657.12 of this sum remains after expenses, and is being donated to FAR. The money is to specifically benefit young students and children in Gyumri, Armenia, the site of the devastating earthquake in December 1988.

Among the audience members was the president of the college, Fr. Michael McFarland, SJ, who offered his remarks praising the concert, the students of the ASA, and concert organizer, Ms. 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 Connecticut and New Jersey. For months leading up to it, the concert was highly publicized in Armenian and non-Armenian networks, with Ms. Nalbandian and John Berberian even being invited for a guest appearance on the Hank Stolz Show. The Worcester Telegram & Gazette also ran a feature story on Ani, John, and the concert, as did the College of the Holy Cross Public Relations office, which posted an online video of an interview with Ani.

For approximately 150 non-Armenian students, professors, and staff of 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, many people relayed their feelings of joy 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 parts of Paruir Sevak's poem, Anlreli Zangakatun, 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, one of the many in the repertoire of 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 remarked, "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.