Armenian youth talent shines at Carnegie Hall

by Florence Avakian

Published: Monday April 19, 2010

V.Ohanyan and the winner of AYT 2010 Eugenia Sarian.

Hamazkayn Arekag Choir .

New York - Twenty young Armenians, ages 10 to 18, from around U.S. demonstrated their impressive musical talents to a full house at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall on April 5 in the 2010 Armenian Youth Talent Finalists' Concert.

The event was sponsored by Direct Help for Armenian People (DHAP) and the Armenian Youth Cultural Organization (AYCO).

Among the guests of honor in attendance were the Primate of the Eastern Diocese Archbishop Khajag Barsamian; the Prelate of the Eastern Prelacy Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan; the Vicar Generals of both the Eastern Prelacy and Diocese, Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, and Very Rev. Haigazoun Najarian, respectively; Armenia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Karen Nazaryan; senior UN official Dr. Movses Abelian; Metropolitan Opera diva Lucine Amara; and pianist and musicologist Sahan Arzruni.

The standing-room only crowd was welcomed by the hardworking co-chair of the event Mrs. Zarmine Boghosian who announced that the concert was dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Dr. Svetlana Amirkhanian, one of the tireless organizers of this performance, also co-chaired the concert.

Instrumentalists among the gifted youngsters included pianists David Antabian, Shant Arzoumanian, Nareg Balian, Lucy Hovanisyan, Steven Kakosian, Arianna Mesrobian, and Katherine and Nicole Sadaniantz.

Talented violinists were Arthur Mouradian, Ani Sinanian, Lilit and Mariam Vahradyan, and Lusine Musaelian on the viola de gamba.

And the voice finalists included Zovinar Agavian, Arturo Atoyan, Ani Djirdjirian, Nicole Nudelman, Elen Ohanyan, Eugenia Sarian, and Serena Tcharboyjian.

Enriching the program were the Hamazkayin "Arekag" Choir, comprising 20 youngsters from ages seven to fifteen, under the direction of its choirmaster Vagharshak Ohanyan who was also artistic director of the event, and one of the initiators of this concert; and the Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School Choir, with 17 young people, ranging in age from eight to twelve, under the direction of its choir director Mrs. Anahid Boghosian. Aram Balian, a finalist of the 2009 Armenian Youth Talent concert provided piano accompaniment for the Arekag Choir in the singing of "Hayr Mer" (Lord's Prayer).

Bouquets and awards

Following the inspiring performances which garnered a lengthy standing ovation, flower bouquets and awards were presented to the singers by Lucine Amara and to the instrumentalists by Sahan Arzruni.

Among these 20 finalists who performed, five had previously been selected to be winners in the instrumental and vocal categories, including pianists Steven Kakosian, and Lucy Hovanisyan; and vocalists Arturo Atoyan, Elen Ohanyan, and Eugenia Sarian.

In a special message which he read to performers and concert attendees, Ambassador Karen Nazaryan expressed his delight at seeing "young Armenian men and women showcasing their amazing talents and creativity in such a beautiful way. We celebrate the undying spirit of our nation through your performances. Your achievements are an enormous source of pride not only for your families, but also for our country, Armenia," he declared.

This second annual concert of the Armenian Youth Talent was an endeavor that comprised many months of preparation by several individuals. Besides the efforts of co-chairs Dr. Svetlana Amirkhanian and Mrs. Zarmine Boghosian, actively involved was Mrs. Marina Baghdasarova (Stepanyan) who from day one took on the tasks of communication, coordination and promotion of the event, along with booklet preparation.

Responsible for the judging were a group of well known musicians, including soprano Anoosh Barclay, baritone Vagharshak Ohanyan, pianist Lusine Badalyan, composer and pianist Karen Hakobyan, violinist Diana Vasilyan, and singer Anahid Boghosian.