MARY BALIAN RELEASES NEW CD – ‘BASHDENK’
By Lisa Kirazian
AZG DAILY
31-10-2009
Culture
Armenian singer-songwriter Mary Balian has released a CD of
contemporary Armenian Christian worship music. "BASHDENK" ("Let’s
Worship") is a passion project, five years in the making for the
LA-based Balian.
The CD boasts an array of high-energy, Armenian-styled pop music,
like Khachin ZInvor (Solder of the Cross) to contemporary Armenian
versions of familiar hymns like Aghaghageh Deeroch (Shout to the Lord)
and Eench Medz es Toon (How Great Thou Art) to heartfelt original
songs like the title track.
Balian’s purpose is to reach Armenians of all ages with a message of
God’s love and hope.
"My desire is to allow Armenians to worship in their own language,
through contemporary Armenian Christian music," says Balian. "I want
to encourage others through music and service."
With that passion for service in mind, Balian teams up with
organizations so that they can help each other’s outreach efforts. For
example, she will be performing for the Armenian Milk Fund on March
6, 2010.
Her own faith has inspired her music and has proven an anchor in the
midst of personal challenges that have come her way. As a teenager, she
lost her father at a young age. As a high-school guidance counselor,
Balian deals with at-risk youth issues every day. And as a married
Armenian woman balancing work, family and art, she has reached an
experienced perspective, which helps her to encourage others, both
students and peers.
Balian and her husband Manuel Saghbazarian are also leaders of the
couples’ ministry at their church, United Armenian Congregational,
in Hollywood, California.
A graduate of UCLA (BA) and CSUN (MS), Mary Balian has performed solo
and in groups, on radio and in live shows around the world. Some of
her upcoming performances and concerts include:
* November 7-8, 2009: Toronto, Canada — Armenian Evangelical Church
of Toronto.
* November 19, 2009: Hollywood, CA — UACC Evangelical "Armenian"
Worship Night. The three-day festival will also feature a youth night
on Friday, Nov. 20 and an all-English worship night on Saturday, Nov.
21.
* March 6, 2010: Hollywood, CA — Fundraiser Concert for The Milk Fund.
For bookings, information or to purchase the CD, visit