GLENDALE — Dr. Hovsep and Hilda Fidanian, together with the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Herb Albert School of Music, hosted a salon at their home to present Armenian classical and contemporary music performed by UCLA’s VEM Ensemble, composed of top graduate students at the school.
Prior to this intimate concert, guests enjoyed remarks from event hosts the Fidanians, Prof. Movses Pogossian, director of the Armenian Music Program, Professor of Composition Ian Krouse, former Academic Associate Dean of the UCLA School of Music, and Helen Haig, senior policy adviser for the late Gov. George Deukmejian.
Krouse, composer of Armenian Requiem, the first Armenian requiem ever created, declared: “We at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music are proud to host the groundbreaking and important Armenian Music Program, and will do everything we can to ensure it will thrive for many years to come.”
The guests responded enthusiastically to Pogossian’s vision for the Armenian Music Program, to the superb musical performances, and to UCLA’s strong support of Armenian culture. As one guest said, “I have been proud of being a UCLA Bruin countless times, but today sets a new high, thanks to the Armenian Music Program!”
Since 2013, Pogossian and the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music have celebrated Armenian music and culture through the Armenian Music Program, which is dedicated to public outreach through community performances and scholarship opportunities for students. The cornerstone of the program, the VEM Ensemble, includes a group of music students who perform Armenian classical and contemporary music for community audiences.
The School of Music is working to grow the Armenian Music Program with increased class offerings, student scholarships, community performances, academic lectures, and publications.
