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PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Jubilee Program Devoted to the 65th Anniversary of the Cultural,
Theatrical and Community Activity of Samuel Ilanjian
The jubilee program devoted to the 65th anniversary of the cultural,
theatrical and community activity of 80-year-old Samuel Ilanjian took
place on Saturday evening, June 27, 2009 in the cultural complex of the
AGBU Alex Manoogian Center in Pasadena. This program was organized by
the AGBU Ardavazt Theater Company to honor one of its oldest members. It
was sponsored by the AGBU Southern California District Committee (SCDC),
with His Eminence Archbishop Hovnan Derderian presiding.
In attendance were Fr. Baret Yeretsian, the honoree, his wife and family
members, representatives of AGBU Central Board of Directors and local
executive committees, the theater company’s executive committee, the
company’s director, former and current actors and actresses,
representatives of the Los Angeles Armenian press, the honoree’s friends
and colleagues, as well as representatives of affiliated organizations
and approximately 400 guests.
Opening remarks were delivered by Ara Babayan, chairman of the Ardavazt
Theater Company, who highlighted the honoree’s exceptional
administrative abilities. He characterized Ilanjian’s organizational
work and activity over the past 65 years as "total devotion, spirit of
sacrifice and indefatigable diligence."
The emcee was the director-actor Krikor Satamian who, by means of a
slide presentation, transported the audience back to Beirut, Lebanon,
where Ilanjian became active in the community, as actor, office worker
and then administrator. Satamian admitted that the theater company owes
the largest part of its success to Ilanjian.
Ilanjian was the driving force and synthesizer behind the merger of the
AGBU Antranik and Hamazkayin Knar song and dance ensembles, forming the
Lebanese Armenian Song and Dance Ensemble, as a prelude to the Armenian
community’s participation in the Baalbek international cultural
festival. Those combined groups subsequently gave many performances in
Lisbon and various other cities of Portugal.
Following his relocation to Southern California, it was again Ilanjian,
as chairman of the executive committee of Ardavazt Theater Company, who
synthesized the merger of this drama group with Lark Musical Society of
Glendale, which resulted in the successful productions of Dikran
Tchouhajian’s operettas – "Zvart," "Leblebiji Hor Hor Agha" and
"Zemire."
Wanda Yousoufian, the eldest child of the Ilanjians, spoke on behalf of
the family, dwelling on her father’s many good qualities. She also
mentioned that the AGBU was part of his larger family, considering the
amount of time spent and work carried on in that connection.
Janet Kouyoumjian-Ilanjian, Samuel’s wife, sang Komitas’s "Le, le" and
Edgar Hovhannisian’s "Arpa-Sevan," with piano accompaniment by Victoria
Simonian.
The main speaker was Dr. Kevork Keshishian. In his comprehensive
address, he presented a biographical sketch of Samuel Ilanjian – from
his birth in Kharpert, to the family’s emigration to Lebanon, Samuel’s
early involvement in community life, his joining the Kaspar Ipekian
drama group, and his travels in the Diaspora with the Vahram Papazian
drama group, etc. In particular, he expressed much appreciation for the
undertakings and huge cultural accomplishments of Samuel Ilanjian,
specifically under the umbrella of AGBU-AYA, which he joined in 1956.
Indeed, he was the administrative director of the AYA Vahram Papazian
drama group, as well as the AYA song and dance ensemble, for much of the
1960’s and 1970’s. Dr. Keshishian particularly stressed the Baalbek
Festival in Lebanon and the three magnificent operettas of Dikran
Tchouhajian presented in Los Angeles in recent years through the
exemplary collaboration of Krikor Satamian and Vatsche Barsoumian. The
main speaker cited the creation of the AGBU Esthetic Educational Studies
Center in Hollywood, where hundreds of youths developed their artistic
skills, as well as the chamber music group, as just a few of the
cultural efforts Mr. Ilanjian was involved with here. Finally, he
mentioned the service rendered by the honoree as the chairman of the
executive committee of Ardavazd Theater Company from 1997 to 2007.
Recently, Samuel Ilanjian was proclaimed an Honor Member of AGBU by the
organization’s Central Board of Directors.
Greetings were presented by childhood friend, classmate at the
Evangelical College of Beirut and fellow AGBU worker Yenovk Balikian,
Lark Musical Society director Vatsche Barsoumian, former SCDC Chairman
Vahe Imasdounian (remarks delivered by Vartouhi Kazanjian), current SCDC
Chairman Berj Shahbazian and AGBU Central Board of Directors member
Sinan Sinanian. Talin Simonian and Sevag Ilanjian, daughter and son of
Samuel, read the letters of congratulations received from various
individuals, including US Congressman Adam Schiff, State Senator Carol
Liu and Assemblyman Paul Krekorian.
A plaque was presented to Mr. Ilanjian by Ardavazt Theater Company. He
also became the first recipient of the newly established AGBU
"Presidential" Medal of Honor, which was given by AGBU Central Board of
Directors member Sinan Sinanian, who read the accompanying letter from
President Berge Setrakian. SCDC Chairman Berj Shahbazian, in turn,
presented the honoree with the Committee’s certificate of honor and
plaque.
On this occasion, His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians,
bestowed upon Mr. and Mrs. Ilanjian the St. Sahag-St. Mesrob Medal,
which was presented to him by Archbishop Derderian. Very Rev. Baret
Yeretsian read the accompanying encyclical.
Organizing committee chairman Ara Babayan announced the establishment of
the "Samuel Ilanjian" prize, to be awarded to students who enter the
field of drama upon completion of their secondary education.
In addition to Janet Kouyoumjian-Ilanjian, a rich artistic program was
presented by tenor Suren Mkrtichian, soprano Knarig Nergararian, bass
Ruben Telunts, Souren Nergararian and Souren Megerian, with piano
accompaniment by Victoria Simonian.
The last speaker was the honoree himself. He expressed thanks to His
Holiness Karekin II, Archbishop Derderian, AGBU Central Board and SCDC,
Ardavazt Theater Company, Dr. Kevork Keshishian, and all those who
participated in the jubilee celebration. Among other things, he said,
"My main vision and dream has been to bring about collaboration and
unity with other cultural organizations," following the AGBU motto "In
unity there is strength." He promised to continue his service with the
same ardor for the glory of Armenian culture.
A lavish reception followed in the adjacent Boyajian Hall.
Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian program, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
