For immediate release

An Amaras Art Alliance program
December 17, 2004

Hovanness Badalian Music Fund Banquet – an event to remember

Hovanness Badalian Music Fund
P.O.Box 733,
Watertown, MA 02471
Phone: 617-331-0426
Email: HBMusicFund@yahoo.com
Contact person:
Tatoul Badalian, Program Director

617- 331-0426 HBMusicFund@Yahoo.com

An enthusiastic Artur Anushavanyan, folk singer from Yerevan, and
poet Zepure Arman were among the young people who performed at the
First Annual Banquet of the Hovanness Badalian Music Fund held in
Watertown, Massachusetts. The December 4, 2004 event brought together
close to 250 supporters of the Fund, young and young at heart,
in a festive atmosphere. Armine Mirzabegian MD, speaking on behalf
of the organizing committee, welcomed everyone and invited composer
and conductor Konstantin Petrosian of Providence, RI, to speak about
the goals and mission of the Fund. Following Maestro Petrosianâ~@~Ys
remarks a short biography of Badalian, narrated by the singer himself,
was presented on video courtesy of Argisti Chaparian and his father
Vartan. His Excellency Dr Arman Kirakossian, Armeniaâ~@~Ys ambassador
to the US, who together with his wife and young son was among invited
guests, spoke about the importance of such an undertaking and urged
everyone to continue their support of the Fund. He emphasized that by
helping the children in their music education the Fund will also help
strengthen our cultural identity. Hovanness Badalianâ~@~Ys brother
Garnik, who lives in Watertown, on behalf of his family throughout
the world, thanked the guests, the organizing committee and specially
the young performers for their involvement in the project.

The cultural program, hosted by Narini Badalian, Garnikâ~@~Ys grand
daughter, ignited with Ani Arakelian reciting a poem in Armenian
followed by the performance of soprano Noune Karapetian who was
accompanied by Nune Hakobyan, piano and Eddy Gregorian, dhol. Poet
Zepure Arman read her work specially written for this event and
prefaced it by saying: Badalian was a man who carried his sense of
identity with such absoluteness that his identity molded him rather
than the contrary. Gegham Margarian performed his own work on the
keyboard followed by Artur Anushavanyan who delighted the audience
with his folk songs.

The final speaker of the evening was Ara Sarkissian, a young composer
and graduate of Boston Conservatory of Music, who spoke of his recent
journey in Armenia and stressed the critical shortage of quality
instruments which children need in order to continue their music
education in the Republic. Turning his attention to the New England
community, Mr Sarkissian, praised members of Bostonâ~@~Ys Arev Armenian
Folk Ensemble who have dedicated a great deal of energy in learning
and performing Armenian folk songs. In particular he mentioned Martin
Haroutunian, founder and director of the group, who has been a teacher
and a mentor for many young people interested in learning traditional
Armenian music. He concluded his remarks by inviting Maestro Petrosian
to present the first ever Hovanness Badalian Appreciation Award Plaque
to the members of Arev. Martin Haroutunian accepted the plaque on
behalf of the group and invited its members whose current roster
includes Ani Zargarian, vocalist; Tamar Melkonian, vocalist; John
Kozelian, oud; Vazken Kroshian, M.D., guitar; Marcos Shahbazyan,
dhol; David Gevorkian, duduk and Martin Haroutunian, duduk to the
stage for a grand finale performance of the evening.

HBMF provides merit-based scholarships to children enrolled in Armenian
music education programs, worldwide. The Fund also provides assistance
to individuals and organizations that create material and training
programs for children. Beloved singer Hovanness Badalian played a
significant role in educating Armenian children and young adults. He
spread the spirit of the Armenian culture around the world through
his songs, helping bond the Diaspora and Armenia. His dream was
… to hear the Armenian song resonate from every home wherever an
Armenian lives. The Fund was established in early 2004 to celebrate
the singerâ~@~Ys life and legacy.

To learn more about the Fund please call 617 331-0426 or write to HBMF, P O
Box 733, Watertown, MA 02471 (email: HBMusicFund@Yahoo.com)

——————————————————————————

Note to the editor:

First Annual Banquet of Hovanness Badalian Music Fund brought
together many talented young people among them poet Zepur Arman
who made the following remarks and read her poem written specially
for this event. You may wish to publish this as well. Thank You.
Tatoul Badalian

I am overwhelmed with honor that I have a chance to speak of such a
great man to you today. Hovanness Badalian was a man who carried his
sense of identity with such absoluteness that his identity molded
him rather than the contrary. Thus his great art beseeched him and
his country listened. To have such an infectious passion can only
inspire us.

His voice led me to these images.
Adagio from the east beckons
Pulled toward the sky surrounding me
I hang on to each branch offered
my eyes drift north to the palisades of a colossal past
rich as the land we’re grounded on,
sound rumbles throughout the fields
legends live within our tears
the sable obsidian is dripping within my thoughts
with a voice of hundreds before me…..
I anchor my lineage on an abstraction… intangible to the touch
yet an impetuous pulse finds every branch.
Holding on
I am never alone,
I am never forgotten

–Boundary_(ID_qfQmfXgJTomHnNMSjr0Mcw)–