PRESS RELEASE
Armenian National Treasures Foundation
Contact: Atineh Haroutunian
(818) 388-3136
January 8, 2008
Armenian National Treasures Foundation
Debut Holiday Concert a Grand Success
GLENDALE, CA- The first holiday concert of the Armenian National
Treasures Foundation succeeded in brining together Armenian community
members and local residents to celebrate together, setting a new trend
in the style reminiscent of the annual Vienna New Year Concerts. The
Cilicia Symphonic Orchestra conducted by Maestro Mikael Avetisian, with
over 50 performers, kept the audience engaged while performing Armenian
classical and contemporary works, some of which were specially
orchestrated for the concert, which took place on December 27, 2007, at
the Glendale Presbyterian Church. Several traditional instrumentalists
performed along with the orchestra, including Ruben Harutiunyan on the
duduk and Lilit Khoyoyan on the kanon. Soloists Anahid Nersisyan, Razmik
Mansuryan, Marine Abrahamyan, Mannik Manukian, Bakoor Kalantarian and
Ruben Telunts also performed national and patriotic songs, and opera
arias.
His Eminence Prelate Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate of the Western
Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, Fr. Antoine Saroyan
of Armenian Catholic Exarchate of North America & Rev. Joseph Matossian,
Minister of Armenian Evangelical Union of North America attended the
concert along with over 1,000 people including a wide range of the
community leadership, representatives of organizations, as well as a
contingent of the youth. The event was made possible with the financial
support of those who appreciate the Armenian culture from as far away as
Fresno and as south as Long Beach and Montebello. An aspect of the
concert that made a significant impression on the youth was the slide
show, that preceded the concert, of famous Armenian athletes, inventors,
writers and composers from down south in Australia to Armenia, all the
way to those in north and south Americas. "Appreciation of the universal
culture is contingent upon understanding your own roots" said Bianca
Manoukian, co-founder/chair of the organization, which aims to foster
pride in Armenian heritage, educate Armenians and preserve Armenia’s
cultural legacy at sites and monuments.
The newly formed organization has already had its mark on the of
Dzaghgashad (Ghshlagh) village of famous leading revolutionary figure
Nigol Touman, with a revitalization effort which included the
home-museum. The museum is located in the Askeran region of the
Mountainous Karabagh (Artsakh).
Future plans include production of a series of multi-lingual
documentaries about the customs and traditions of over 30 different
regions in Western Armenia, Armenia, Artsakh, Nakhichevan, and Javakhk.
Every region will be explored in details, both historically &
geographically, exposing the hidden gems and treasures that few know
about. Each documentary will include ethnographic information such as
the cuisine of the region, its arts and crafts, dialects, songs &
dances, as well as traditions and celebration. ANTF hopes that the
creation of these contemporary resources will contribute to the
worldwide recognition and pride of our ancestral heritage and in turn
the appreciation of our legacy as a nation. The group plans to broadcast
them on the net & internationally, as well as distribute the series to
colleges, universities, libraries, and Armenian schools and
organizations all around the world. Directing efforts to educating the
youth to revive the Armenian cultural heritage, crafts and traditions is
to ensure that successive generations will appreciate and nurture the
culture, in ways that ensures its survival in the new global cultural
environments.
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The Armenian National Treasures Foundation (ANTF) – Established in 2007,
the ANTF fosters pride in the Armenian heritage. ANTF works to instill
the values of the Armenian people by stimulating broad-scale involvement
of all generations, and encouraging the preservation of the Armenian
traditions and customs. ANTF also contributes to the restoration and
conservation of sites and buildings of archeological and historical
importance to the Armenian population. For more information please
contact [email protected]