By Florence Avakian
NEW YORK — It was both a celebration of the 10th anniversary of Direct Help for Armenian People (DHAP), and the 2800th anniversary of Erebuni-Yerevan.
DHAP President and founder Dr. Svetlana Amirkhanian warmly welcomed the audience to this celebratory concert which took place at Carnegie Hall on Saturday, October 20 that presented the year’s talented Armenian youth finalists.
Opening the sold-out event was a soulful prayer by Armenian Diocesan Vicar General, the Very Rev. Fr. Simeon Odabashian, followed by the presentation and awarding of this year’s talented youth finalists by Master of Ceremonies Eugenia Sarian.
As 17 youngsters of the Hamazkayin Arekag Choir led by their musical director and conductor Vagharshak Ohanyan filed onto the stage, the audience erupted into thunderous applause. In joyful voice and perfect unison they offered a number of moving Armenian numbers.
For many of the young performers, Aram Khachaturian was the dominant composer, especially for talented pianists Davit Avetisyan, Yana Prakhina, Maxim Tesovic. Alex Vartanian’s interpretation of the famed composer’s Waltz displayed a deep understanding of the music, and Cami Hall played an impressive first movement of Khachaturian’s Sonatina.
