PRESS RELEASE
Armenian General Benevolent Union Inc.
Rita Kuyumjian MD
Chairperson
805, Manoogian street
Ville St-Laurent, QC H4N 1Z5
Tel: 514-748-2428
Fax: 514-748-6307
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Montreal, March 14, 2007 –
The final centennial event organized by AGBU Montreal, a grand symphonic
concert of Armenian musical favourites was crowned with a major success in
the Claude Champagne hall of the Music Faculty of the University of Montreal
on Sunday the 11th of March.
Close to 1000 attendees filled the hall to the brim. The event was
inaugurated by a video presentation of the AGBU Alex Manoogian School choir,
which sang the Canadian, Armenian and AGBU anthems. The artistic director
of the event, Mr. Garo Nichanian then invited the chairperson of the
chapter, Dr. Rita Kuyumjian to welcome the attendees. Dr. Kuyumjian gave a
passionate speech reminding all about their past involvement with the AGBU,
from kindergarten days to their proud involvement as youth, and as adult
volunteers. Her bilingual speech can be found here. Her speech was received
with enthusiastic applause.
During the first half of the program, the FACE symphony orchestra, under the
baton of maestra Theodora Stathpoulos, performed works of Babajanian,
Khatchadourian, Dikranian and other great composers. The audience also
enjoyed the young solo violinist Robert Margaryan, who performed A.
Khatchadourian’s Violin Concerto in D Minor.
During the intermission, the audience was invited to enjoy a unique
exhibition of the history of the AGBU graciously specially brought from the
New York headquarters, which was welcomed with great interest.
The 2nd half of the concert was conducted by maestro Konstantin Petrossian,
and it included several musical favourites of popular Armenian songs. The
singing soloists were, Yeghishe Manucharyan, Nouneh Karapetian and Garo
Nichanian as well as a combined choir of all Armenian associations, mainly
Bolsahay, Hamazkaine and St. Geregory the Illuminator Cathedral. The
singers were greeted with standing ovations and had to return for repeat
performances. The night concluded with the thundering of `Yerevan-Erebouni’,
jointly performed by all the artists and the choir.
Following the concert, the chapter played host to a special reception for
the main donors, artists, as well as chapter volunteers. Several attendees
expressed their gratitude and congratulations, including the chapter
chairperson, Mr. Arman Hagopian, chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of the
Republic of Armenia, Mr. Garo Nichanian, artistic director and main
organizer of the event, as well as His Eminence, Bishop B. Galstanyan,
Primate of the Canadian Diocese, under whose auspices the evening concert
was held.
Dr. Kuyumjian expressed her sincere gratitude to the whole of the community
which spontaneously rallied around the AGBU Montreal chapter to crown the
centennial year with success, she also thanked all who contributed to the
publication of the historical program booklet, which contained important
information not only about the participants, but about the history of the
AGBU and its contributions. Finally, she dedicated the week to the
centennial and announced that the historical exhibition will continue to be
displayed at the chapter during that period.
For further information, please check the AGBU Montreal website
or contact the AGBU at 514-748-2428 or via email:
[email protected]
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
