Armenian Missionary Association of America
Louisa Janbazian, PR/Communications Coordinator
31 West Century Road
Paramus, NJ 07652
Cell: 201.745.7496
AMAA and AEUNA Present “Our Light, Our Hope”
A Musical Program for Commemoration and Renewal
Glendale, CA – “Our Light, Our Hope” was the theme of a special
musical program, organized by the Armenian Genocide Centennial
Committee of the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) and
the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America (AEUNA), which took
place on Saturday, January 24 at the Majestic Ambassador Auditorium in
Pasadena, CA.
The Concert, performed by the Lark Musical Society Choir and Orchestra
of Glendale, CA under the direction of Maestro Vatsche Barsoumian,
“can merely be described as truly unique, that elated our souls,
delighted our appetites, soared our imagination, flew us to the annals
of our national epic history, cried out our pain, paid worthy tribute
to the victims of the Genocide and embodied our victorious response to
the crime with an unrelenting passion to live, love, dream, imagine
and create, in all glorifying God for His delivered promise not to
forsake us,” said Zaven Khanjian, Executive Director/CEO of the AMAA.
The program combined several artistic mediums such as music,
recitation, and dance -an array of selections that was presented in
three Acts.
ACT I – FOREFATHERS – reflected the traditions and heroism of the
Armenian people. Through songs, recitations and dances, it
represented our nation as one of the most ancient civilizations that
boasts significant periods of spiritual, artistic, military, economic,
and intellectual achievements.
ACT II – CALAMITY – commemorated the collective tragedy that befell
the Armenian nation in the early twentieth century. It was a tribute
to our martyrs who perished for their ethnicity and Christian
faith. But the resurrection was inevitable, just like the resurrection
of Jesus, in Whom they trusted.
ACT III – HOMELAND – celebrated our triumphant survival which heralded
a brighter future. Through artistic voices it was a recommitment to
our Lord, our Motherland Armenia and our Culture.
The theme of the Program, “Our Light, Our Hope,” was based on a
patriotic song “Hayrenikis Hed” (With My Fatherland) written in 1915
by the famous poet Hovhannes Tumanian, (music by famous composer
Alexander Harutiunian). Each act of the program started with this
moving song divided into three parts – the first two verses of the
poem describing our past, the third verse describing the atrocities
that begot our nation and the fourth verse looking with triumph to the
future for a revived Homeland and an all-powerful Homeland.
Nothing was spared for a capacity filled crowd to take this emotional
journey to the past, savor the present and yearn for a bright future,
despite the experience of the crime of Genocide.
“Hats off to every participant in the presentation, from dreamers to
planners, organizers, producers, creators and each participant, in
making this program a cultural miracle,” said Mr. Khanjian.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
