GLENDALE — The Tekeyan Cultural Association Los Angeles Chapter, in collaboration with the Tekeyan Cultural Association Metro Los Angeles Chapter, present a program on the rich literary legacy of the poet Vahan Tekeyan and the activity of the Tekeyan Cultural Association (TCA) to take place Sunday, March 10 at the Glendale Public Library.
Parsegh Kartalian, chairman of the TCA Los Angeles Chapter, will serve as the master of ceremonies. The main speakers will be Drs. Krikor Adanalian and Tamara Hovhannisyan. Dr. Adanalian, a cardiologist originally from Aleppo, will lecture about the more than 70 years of productive cultural activity of TCA. Dr. Hovhannisyan, a poet, gallery owner and literary critic, as well as a former staff member of the Monterey Institute of International Studies, will lecture about Vahan Tekeyan as a poet and man of letters. The program will be in the Armenian language.
Kartalian said, “I believe this program will be entertaining and informative. The poet Vahan Tekeyan has played an important role in our modern culture and deserves to be better known, while the efforts of the Tekeyan Cultural Association over the decades to promote and advance Armenian culture in many parts of the world is a story of dedication and sacrifice that has allowed several generations of Armenians a deep connection to their roots. Our March event includes very talented musicians as well as renowned speakers.”
Melo Ekizian, a graduate of the Melkonian Educational Institute, is an expressive and talented reciter who will present some pieces of poetry, while the musical portion of the evening will include songs by Mariam Aghajanian with Shushana Hakobyan performing on the piano, and a performance by Yergnayeen Dagher (Heavenly Chants Flute and Harp Duo), composed of Salpy and Sossy Kerkonian.
Mariam Aghajanyan was born and raised in Yerevan, where at the age of 16 she began her music education at Arno Babajanyan Music College. After four years there, she pursued her master’s in vocal performance at the Komitas Conservatory. Shortly after she graduated, she immigrated to the United States where she continued her musical career and performed in recitals, community gatherings, churches, and for US veterans. In June 2018, she had her big debut performance with pianist Shushana Hakobyan.
Hakobyan received her master’s and doctorate degrees in music from the Komitas State Conservatory. She was one of the leading soloists of the Armenian State Philharmonic and a founding member of the SHELL Armenia State Philharmonic Trio. She has given recitals in USA, Canada, Austria, France, Italy, Lebanon, Russia, and Ukraine. Since 2014 she has collaborated with violinist and composer, Ruben Aghiyan, forming the group, Unison Duet with whom she has played numerous concerts in USA and abroad. Since 2016 the duo have done charitable concert tours in Armenia to help families in need. In 2018 they opened a violin class in the village Achajur for their program, “Keep Armenian Borders Spiritually Strong,” helping talented kids in the borders of Armenia to get musical education. The proceeds from their CD, Fantasy, all go to this cause. Shushana is also a successful and inspiring piano instructor with more than 13 years of teaching experience.
