Nork Children’s Center Performers to Tour 8 North American Cities

PRESS OFFICE
Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (E.)
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Chris Zakian
Tel: (212) 686-0710; Fax: (212) 779-3558
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: <; September 12, 2005 8-CITY TOUR OF AWARD-WINNING YOUTH TROUPE FROM ARMENIA SHAPING UP FOR OCTOBER DEBUT Eastern Diocese & AGBU Co-sponsoring "A Mosaic of Music, Dance & Performance" to Honor 1600th Anniversary of Armenian Alphabet * * * This fall Armenians in North America will be treated to a glimpse of the promising artistic future of their homeland, when a troupe of more than 60 young performers will tour the eastern U.S. and Canada. The young artists, ages 10 to 19, will bring to life a variety of Armenian art forms--song, dance, instrumental music, dramatic recitation, gymnastics and acrobatics--in what has been called an "Armenian Cirque du Soleil." The gifted youth from Armenia's AGBU-sponsored "Holy Etchmiadzin Nork Children's Center" will visit eight North American cities under the sponsorship of the Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern) and the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU). Billed as a "A Mosaic of Music, Dance and Performance as Vibrant as Armenia," the tour will debut in New York City's Town Hall on Sunday, October 9, and will then proceed to performances in Richmond, VA; Washington, DC; Chicago, IL; Racine, WI; Boston, MA; and Montreal, Canada (for two performances); before concluding in Toronto, Canada, on October 30. (Tour details appear below.) The Diocese and AGBU are sponsoring the Nork Children's Center performers to commemorate the 1600th anniversary of the Armenian alphabet. Co-chairing the organizing committee are Hrant Gulian (for the Eastern Diocese) and Anita Anserian (for the AGBU), with officials of the Canadian Diocese organizing the tour's final leg through their country. The young performers are already well known in Armenia, where they play to enthusiastic capacity crowds, and have won awards in European festivals. This will be their first exposure to American audiences. With a combined enrollment of 3,500 students, ages 7 to 19, and an administrative staff of 300, the three Children's Centers in Yerevan provide a constructive, after-school environment for young Armenian students to nurture their talents and broaden their knowledge in courses unavailable to them at overcrowded public schools. With daily instruction in music, art, crafts, dance, computers, language, history and gymnastics, the centers have truly had a positive impact on a new generation of Armenians. The centers are funded by AGBU and run by the Holy See of Etchmiadzin. The following performance dates and venues for the "Mosaic of Music, Dance and Performance," featuring the Nork Children's Center Performers, have been confirmed. See individual listings in the Armenian press for further details. Please be aware that itineraries are subject to change. NEW YORK CITY--NORTH AMERICAN DEBUT: Sunday, October 9--Town Hall, 3:00 p.m. For info/tickets contact the Eastern Diocese, (212) 686-0710, or AGBU, (212) 319-6383. RICHMOND, VA: Wednesday October 12--Short Pump Middle School, 7:00 p.m. For info/tickets contact St. James Armenian Church, Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan, (804) 282-3818, [email protected]. WASHINGTON, DC: Friday, October 14--Rockville High School, 7:00 p.m. For info/tickets contact St. Mary Armenian Church, Fr. Vertanes Kalayjian, (202) 363-1923, [email protected]; or Louisa Baghdassarian, (301) 468-7669, [email protected]. CHICAGO, IL: Sunday, October 16--Regina Dominican High School, 4:00 p.m. For tickets contact (Search: MOSAIC) or (800) 838-3006. For general info contact St. James Armenian Church, (847) 864-6263. RACINE, WI: Tuesday, October 19--St. Catherine's High School, 7:00 p.m. For info/tickets contact St. Mesrob Armenian Church, Fr. Yeprem Kelegian, (262) 639-0531; or Abraham Ouzounian, (262) 880-1277, [email protected]. BOSTON, MA: Friday, October 21--Watertown High School, 7:00 p.m. For info/tickets contact St. James Armenian Church, (617) 923-8860; or Holy Trinity Armenian Church, (617) 354-0632; or Garo Salibian, (781) 439-2762. MONTREAL, CANADA--TWO PERFORMANCES: Sunday, October 23, 7:00 p.m., AND Monday, October 24, 8:00 p.m.--Salle Claude Champagne. For info/tickets contact the Canadian Diocese, (514) 276-9479; or AGBU Montreal, (514) 748-2428. TORONTO, CANADA: Sunday, October 30--time and location to be announced. For info/tickets contact AGBU Toronto, (416) 431-2428; or Salpi Der Ghazarian, (416) 754-0218; or Lena Ouzounian, (416) 441-6763. --9/6/05 E-mail picture available on request. PHOTO CAPTION: More than 60 young artists from Armenia's Nork Children's Center will present "A Mosaic of Music, Dance and Performance," touring eight North American cities from Oct. 9 through 30. The tour is being sponsored by the Eastern Diocese and AGBU, to honor the 1600th anniversary of the Armenian alphabet. Confirmed stops include New York, Richmond, Washington, Chicago, Racine, Boston, Montreal, and Toronto. # # #