SARF TO TRANSFER ANOTHER $150,000 TO SYRIAN ARMENIANS
Tuesday, June 18th, 2013
The finale of HyeAid2
HyeAID2 Continues To Show The Southland’s Determination to Help
Syrian Armenians
HOLLYWOOD-The Dolby Theatre has now been imprinted in the Armenian
psyche as yet another location for showing the determination of
southern Californians’ that they still care for the survival of the
Armenians in Syria. Nearly 3,000 supporters, 300 dancers, entertainers
from Armenia and the southland and 56 sponsors came together to raise
funds for the Syrian Armenian Relief Fund (SARF) with the HyeAID2
concert on June 9, 2013.
Since October 2012, SARF has transferred $500,000 to Syrian Armenians.
Following a SARF Executive Committee (EC) meeting after the concert,
Zaven Khanjian, the Chairperson of the SARF EC, reported that the
next transfer would be for $150,000.
A thank you letter from the Syrian Armenian Committee for Urgent Relief
and Rehabilitation dated June 1, 2013, in Aleppo, Syria, published in
the concert program confirmed that the effort is reaching those in
need in Aleppo, Damascus, on the western coast (Lattakia, Kessab),
and Jezireh. Funding is being provided for food essentials, health
care, housing and education. The letter also hoped that the efforts
will continue to the same vigor for the sake of the existence of the
Armenian community in Syria.
Part of the capacity audience at HyeAid2
Manoug Seraydarian, as emcee, welcomed everyone seated on all four
levels of the Dolby Theatre and invited Zaven Khanjian, Chairperson
of the SARF Executive Committee, to the stage. Khanjian welcomed the
guests and speaking in a poetic fashion in Armenian, remarked that
the purpose of the concert is to help the enduring Syrian Armenians
with songs and music as symbols of our wishes for light, hope and
prayers for peace, and with each call and scream it is an invitation
for the white dove with an olive tree branch in its beak to come back
and perch on the facade of the fort, the dome of the church or the
minaret of the mosque in Syria.
The event dignitaries included the SARF member representatives
including Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Prelate of the Western Diocese,
Most Rev. Bishop Mikael Mouradian of the Armenian Eparchy in United
States and Canada, the Western Prelacy Prelate was on an overseas
trip and was represented with Very Rev. Fr. Muron Aznikian, Rev. Joe
Matossian of the Armenian Evangelical Union of North America, Avedik
Izmirlian of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation of Western USA,
Gabriel Moloyan of the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party-Western U.S.A.,
Hagop Nazarian of the Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, Lena Bozoyan
of the Armenian Relief Society of Western USA, Krikor Karaguezian
of the Armenian General Benevolent Union, Manoug Choukhajian of the
Hamazkayin of Western USA, sponsoring Armenian school principals, event
sponsors Mr. & Mrs. Eddie and Talin Amroyan and Mr. & Mrs. Krikor &
Marlene Yerevanian, media representatives, and volunteers who provided
technical services.
The Gevorkian Dance Academy, with Directors Vartan and Siranush
Gevorkian, and Choreographer Sona Gevorkian, filled the stage with
scores of children. Their excellent performances ranged from the
fun dances by the very young children to the vigorous acrobatics of
“Bert” (fort) with eight male dancers standing on the shoulders
of the other eight in a circle configuration. The dances evoked
both joy and sadness, particularly with the massive “Genocide”
performance, which was based on the poetry “Hoyots Danteakane” by
Hovhannes Shiraz, read by Nune Avetisyan, music by Arthur Meschian
and Elon, with solo dancers Sona and Ninel Gevorkian. The Gevorkian
Dance Academy reaffirmed that Armenian dance was alive and well,
with colorful costumes and boys and girls of all ages giving their
best to an audience who appreciated their efforts.
The anticipation and excitement was infectious for the soloists who
traveled from Armenia to perform at the concert. Their performances,
along with those who live in the Los Angeles Basin will be dearly
remembered. They were an amazing group, who could switch from
nostalgia to delightfully fun solos, as if to match the changing
colors of the stage.
Soloist Leyla Saribekyan performed some of her own songs, “Yergir
Hayreni” and “Hayortiner Miagam” (the latter lyrics were by Sergey
Haroutunian), and “Zinvori Mor Yerge” by Robert Amirkhanyan. Silva
Hakobyan was surrounded by the Gevorkian Dance Academy dancers as
she sang “Sasna Bar” and “Ashkharhi Hayerov” by Mane Hakobyan. She
also performed “Tnits Pakhle em” by Mane Hakobyan.
Andre, as someone who lived through the war in Nagorno-Karabakh,
connected with the audience worried about the Armenian community in
Syria. He performed “Hayastans” and “Horizonner”. The Aram Avagyan’s
Music Studio had a group of six young singers perform “Hayastan
Ashkar”, while Avagyan accompanied them on the keyboard.
The trio led by Rouben Haroutyunyan performed “Hovern Engan” on the
duduk. Harout Pamboukjian showed his dynamic style with a performance
of “Menk kich enk sagayn mez hye en asum” lyrics by Barouyr Sevag
and music by Levon Katrjian. Razmik Mansouryan performed “Patrangi
Teverov” by Marine Ales. Hovhannes Shahbazyan performed “Horovel”
by Komidas, and Armenchik performed “Ashkharhi Hayer”.
The concert concluded by Leyla Saribekyan’s “Arakadzi Shurchbar”
which portrayed the unity of the Armenian people. The Honored Artist
of Republic of Armenia asked the audience to stand up and hold hands
in the spirit of collective solidarity with the Syrian Armenians.
For over three hours, the concert was a grand event to show the great
love that this diverse community in Southern California has for the
people who are suffering in Syria. They came together with the hope
that their performances will uplift the spirits both here and in Syria,
and provide sustenance for the physical existence in Syria.
The following churches, charities and organizations came together to
form the Syrian Armenian Relief Fund: Armenian Catholic Eparchy in
North America; Armenian Evangelical Union of North America; Western
Diocese of the Armenian Church; Western Prelacy of the Armenian
Apostolic Church of America; Armenian General Benevolent Union;
Armenian Missionary Association of America; Armenian Relief Society
of Western U.S.A.; Armenian Democratic Liberal Party; Armenian
Revolutionary Federation-Western U.S.A.; and Social Democrat
Hunchakian Party-Western U.S.A. The web site address follows:
http://asbarez.com/110731/sarf-to-transfer-another-150000-to-syrian-armenians/
www.SyrianArmenianReliefFund.org.