CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — In commemoration of the Sainted Martyrs of 1915, and dedicated to Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian of blessed memory, the Erevan Choral Society of the Holy Trinity Armenian Church will present a Concert on Sunday, April 17, at 2:30 p.m., in the church sanctuary at 145 Brattle St.
Under the direction of Konstantin Petrossian, Music Director and Conductor, the Erevan Choral Society will present a befitting program that will include Armenian memorial, folk and patriotic songs.
Guest soloists will be David Ayriyan, kamancha, and mezzo-soprano Gohar Manjelikian, with Nune Hakobyan on the organ and piano. Ayriyan is one of Armenia’s greatest musicians, a living legend, and a virtuoso kamancha performer. The kamancha is an ancient stringed musical instrument of Armenia. David entered Baku Conservatory where he studied this unique instrument. He has won Gold Medals in many worldwide competitions, including one in Moscow, Russia (1957), and he has toured Europe, Asia, US and Canada. In 1991, David and his family moved to the United States, where he has expanded his repertoire and is able to meet new requests and exploit the full range of the kamancha. Mezzo-Soprano Gohar Manjelikian is an Armenian artist now living in the United States. She began her singing career in Armenia, in 1981, when she was accepted as a member of the State Academic Chorus. She graduated from the Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan. Since her arrival in the United States, Gohar has sung in many Armenian and American churches. Her extensive repertoire includes a wide range of European, Russian and Armenian operas as well as classical, romantic and sacred music. “How Great Thou Art” is Gohar’s first CD with sacred Armenian songs. Also included in the program will be recitations of inspirational poems by students of Holy Trinity’s Armenian School.
“It is extremely fitting,” states Fr. Vasken Kouzouian, pastor of Holy Trinity Armenian Church, “to be dedicating this concert in memory of His Eminence Archbishop Yeghishe Gizirian, who was an avid and long-time supporter of the Erevan Choral Society and attended as many of the concerts as he was able.”
Gizirian served as pastor at Holy Trinity Armenian Church from 1974 to 1976; he was the former Primate of the United Kingdom; long-serving pastor among churches of the Eastern Diocese; and he was the eldest clergyman of episcopal rank in the Armenian Church.
“We invite the Armenian and non-Armenian community to join us on Sunday, April 17,” Kouzouian added, “as we commemorate through music and poem, the Sainted Holy Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide and fondly remember Yeghishe Srpazan.”
