NEW YORK — It was a presentation of Armenian Youth Talent competition finalists, and renowned professional musicians at Merkin Concert Hall on Sunday, September 17. The special event was dedicated to the 26th Anniversary of Armenian independence, and presented by Direct Help for Armenian People (DHAP), and its founder and president, Dr. Svetlana Amirkhanian.
With the concert stage festooned with a large bouquet of fall season flowers in the colors of the Armenian flag, the enthusiastic audience was warmly welcomed by Mistress of Ceremonies Eugenia Sarian, a previous DHAP winning performer. This was a recital of pre-teen and teen performers, with bright futures shining ahead.
The concert began with a rousing rendition of Arno Babajanyan’s well-known Azg Parabantz, and Yerevan joyfully sung by the costumed 16-member pre-teen Hamazkayin Arekag Choir, conducted by their musical director, Vagarshak Ohanyan. These numbers were followed by Armen Martirosyan’s Haykagan Banak, each number garnering loud cheering and applause.
Several young gifted pianists shared their talents, including Arpi Bakshian, Eliz Ohanian, Jero Meradian and Andre Boldi. Two of Babajanian’s deeply heartfelt piano compositions, Melody, and Elegia, were offered with great feeling and skillful technique by Michael Khoury, and Nareg Balian, respectively. Both young artists were in Armenia last summer and participated in a group of 10 young Armenian youngsters who gave a patriotic concert organized by Amirkhanian for Armenian soldiers.
The only singer in the group, Anahit Indehigulyan, performed a passionately memorable Martiki Yerk, and Vahn Mouradian presented on the cello another one of Babajanyan’s most beautiful and soulful works, Vocalise.
Thirteen-year-old cellist Laura Navasardian, a winner of two international competitions in 2014, and 2016, tackled Enrique Granados’ demanding Intermezzo, displaying her flawless technique, and long sweeping phrases, played with warm and lush tones.