Category: 2023

The C. & E. Merdinian Armenian Evangelical School’s Board of Directors has elected Nerses Aposhian as the new chair of its Board of Directors. Aposhian succeeds Dr. Tzoler Oukayan-Sagherian, who served on the Merdinian School board as chair from 2020-2023 and will continue to serve as a board member.

Nerses Aposhian

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the school and our community,” said Aposhian. “I look forward to helping lead the school through this phase of growth, facilitating academic excellence, and encouraging investment in our educators and facilities. Merdinian holds a special place in my heart. I hope through my and the board’s leadership, we can create a special experience for our students – the Christian Armenian-American leaders of tomorrow,” he continued. 

Nerses Aposhian, becomes the first Merdinian alumnus to assume the role of Board Chair. He attended Merdinian for 11 years and graduated from the school in 2006. Beyond his time as a student, he remained actively engaged with the school and since 2018, has served on the school’s Board of Directors. Since joining the board, Aposhian has served in several capacities as the associate treasurer, treasurer, and chair of the development/finance committee, co-chair of the facilities committee, and member of the personnel committee. He played an instrumental role in hiring current principal Dr. Souzy Ohanian, upgrading the current facility, and leading fundraising efforts for the school. He is the grandson of former Merdinian principal, the late Mr. Aram Boulghourjian, or as Nerses called him “Baron Dede.” 

Aposhian is currently the Acquisitions Director at IDS Real Estate Group, a Los Angeles-based commercial real estate investment, development, and management company with a 40 million square feet portfolio, including industrial, office, and retail real estate. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California (USC) in Political Science and Communication and his law degree from Loyola Law School. He was also an active member and served as the president of the Armenian Professional Society, the USC Young Alumni Council, and USC Alumni Association Board of Governors.

As Chairperson, Aposhian will work closely with Dr. Ohanian and the Board of Directors in shaping the strategic direction of Merdinian, ensuring that the institution continues to thrive and make significant strides in fulfilling its mission to provide exceptional education to students. 

Joining Aposhian on the Board are George Phillips, Jr. (Vice Chair), Gareen Darakjian (Secretary), Peter Amloian (’06) (Treasurer), Dr. Tzoler Oukayan-Sagherian, Christopher Cofer, Rev. Harut Khatchatryan, Levon Filian, Rev. Haig Darakjian, Dr. Hasmig Baran, Lucy Papazyan, Sedda Antekelian (’01), Jacqueline Melkonyan (Parent Board Representative), and Lucy Papazyan (PTO Chair).

BY JASMINE SEYMOUR

The “British Armenian,” a charity organization, held two benefit concerts for Armenia in June under the auspices of the Embassy of Armenia in the United Kingdom. The main performer at these exclusive events was renowned cellist Sevak Avanesyan from Belgium, who joined forces with UK-based musicians to perform European and Armenian classical masterpieces.

For several months already, Sevak Avanesyan has been raising money for Kapan Music Hall in Armenia, where musical icons Aram Khachaturian, Arno Babajanian, and Valery Gergiev performed in the 1970s and 1980s.The Hall had been neglected since the collapse of the Soviet Union, but has recently undergone major refurbishment. Part of the proceeds from the concerts will be donated to Avanesyan’s fundraiser to purchase a world-class grand piano and to transport it from Vienna to Armenia’s Syunik region. The first Kapan International Music Festival—organized by Avanesyan with the support of the local government—will take place from July 4 to 14. Over 30 musicians, covering all genres of music across the world, will perform and give masterclasses and workshops to young musicians.

Renowned cellist Sevak Avanesyan (center left), with his family and guests at the charity concert in Manchester, UK The audience a the charity concert in Manchester, UK

The Manchester charity concert was held on Saturday, June 24 at the Holy Trinity Armenian Church. Erected in 1870, Holy Trinity is the oldest Armenian Church in the British Isles. The Armenian Church opened its doors on Saturday evening and hosted a pre-show wine and food reception for the audience, who came from Wales, Birmingham, North of England and Scotland. Two representatives of the Armenian Embassy were in attendance, including First Secretary Vrezh Kardumyan who delivered welcoming remarks.

The concert opened with a performance of Telemann’s lyrical “Fantasia 2” by 24-year-old oboist Jack Muradian, a graduate of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. He was followed by 21-year-old musical sensation, violinist Polina Sharafyan who performed two pieces: “Tsirani Tsar” by Komitas and the celebrated violin solo “Chaconne” by Bach. Unsurprisingly, Polina is the recipient of a full scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music, studying with maestro Levon Chilingirian. Afterwards, Polina shared the stage with Avanesyan and the two performed Handel/Halvorsen’s “Passacaglia ‘The Impossible Duet for Violin and Cello’” (arrangement of 1893) to the audience’s great delight.

Composer and pianist Vrezh Khachatryan performed Aram Khachaturian’s exuberant and technically demanding “Toccata.” Khachaturian graduated the renowned Royal Northern College of Music with a Master of Music in Performance.

The final performance in Manchester came from Avanesyan, who played Bach’s “Cello suite no 5,” and “Krunk” by Komitas. Avanesyan had previously played “Krunk” in the ruins of the Shushi’s Surp Ghazanchetzotz Cathedral after it was bombed by Azerbajiani forces in October 2020. His video recording from the ruins of the cathedral in Shushi went viral worldwide.

Two days later, on Monday, June 26, the second charity concert was held in the heart of London, at Kensington’s Our Lady of Victories Catholic Church. The 300-seat church was filled with music lovers and supporters of Armenia of all nationalities. Monsignor James Curry generously offered the space and welcomed guests free of charge. In attendance were councillors and Members of Parliament, Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea Preety Hudd, Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the UK and Ireland Bishop Hovakim Manukyan, as well as several Armenian community leaders.

Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea, Preety Hudd, with performers and organizers of the charity concert for Armenia Monsignor James Curry addressing attendees at the charity concert in London

In his opening remarks, Ambassador Varuzhan Nersesyan emphasized the importance of reviving the cultural life in Syunik, supporting the community in the region, and giving them hope to stay in this strategically important region connecting Armenia to the outside world.

Following the success of their Manchester performance, Avanesyan opened the second concert with Sharafyan and the duo once again performed Handel/Halvorsen’s “Passacaglia.”

Renowned British-Armenian violinist Ani Batikian enchanted the audience with her performances of Elgar’s “Romance for Violin and Piano,” and Khachaturian’s “Adagio” and “Bacchanal” from Spartacus. These two famed compositions were executed beautifully, and were the perfect choice for the occasion.

Guests were impressed by the performance of soprano Narine Malkhasyan, well-known to the community as the wife of the current Armenian Ambassador in the UK. Malkhasyan interpreted Schubert’s “Ave Maria” and the uplifting aria “Voi che sapete” from “The Marriage of Figaro” by Mozart with elegance and poise. Malkhasyan, apart from her numerous official engagements, has been actively involved in the Armenian community’s music world and has become a patron of cultural events.

Alexander Aroutiunian’s “Improptu for Piano and Cello” was performed by Avanesyan and Marianna Abrahamyan, and seemed to be a hard act to follow. Meanwhile, soprano Hasmik Harutyunyan from the National Opera Studio, managed to seduce the audience with her sublime interpretations of “Oror” (Lullaby) by Komitas. She continued her recital with “Donde leta usci” from Puccini’s opera “La Bohéme,” transferring the emotions of heart-broken heroine Mimi to her London audience. For her final piece, Harutyunyan was joined by Avanesyan and pianist Abrahamyan to perform Massenet’s lyrical “Elégie.”

One of the highlights of the London concert was Arno Babajanian’s challenging trio for violin, piano and cello. With merely a few hours of rehearsal, the talented musicians delivered this extremely complex and vivacious composition with gusto. In the first part, Allegro, the trio showed their masterly skills of ensemble-playing, as in the second part, Andante, Ani Batikian once again proved herself as a deeply lyrical violinist. Meanwhile, during the third part, Allegro Vivace, the musicians did justice to Babajanian’s glorious masterpiece. Composed in 1952, Babajanian’s 23-minute piece was the perfect ending to a jubilant musical night. It must be stressed the rare musicality of Abrahamyan—pianist and PhD candidate at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland—who performed alongside all of the musicians without the slightest fatigue.

At the end of the evening, Hasmik Seymour, the Chair of the British Armenian group, thanked the audience and the dignitaries for their support, as well as the wonderful musicians for performing free for the charity event.

The audience applauding the performers at the charity concert in London, UK

The British Armenian is a non-funded, non-political, independent group formed in 2020, following Azerbaijan’s military aggression against the indigenous Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. Since 2020, the group has been campaigning to raise awareness about war crimes perpetrated by Azerbaijan, and, in the last six months, raising awareness about the humanitarian crisis that the Armenians of Artsakh are facing as a result of the Lachin Corridor blockade. The British Armenian has been actively campaigning for the release of Armenian prisoners of war and hostages since December 2020, working with the families of hostages in Armenia and the diaspora.

A portion of the profits fundraised during the UK charity concerts will be allocated to the British Armenian’s ongoing campaign, as well as for future events.

The incredible feedback from the audiences of the charity concerts have been humbling and exciting. We anticipate that such well-organized, charitable events will become more routine. In the meantime, there is some good news from Yerevan: the Steinway grand piano has arrived and will not only uplift local musicians, but revitalize the musical life in the Syunik region.

Jasmine Seymour is an activist who established the British Armenian Group, which focuses on campaigning for the release of Armenian prisoners of war currently being held captive in Azerbaijan. The organization has been circulating a petition on change.org and is urging the public to sign the plea to release Armenian POWs.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan (right) meets with Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan on Oct. 12, 2022 in Yerevan

The Pashinyan administration is denying reports suggesting that the Armenian government has cut ties with the authorities of Artsakh.

Last week, after Azerbaijani forces attacked Martuni and Martakert killing four soldiers, the Artsakh parliament called on Yerevan to suspend talks that were underway in Washington between Armenia and Azerbaijani foreign ministers, Ararat Mirzoyan and Jeyhun Bayramov.

The Artsakh foreign ministry also called on Armenian authorities to refrain from signing any peace deal that would jeopardize the lives of the Armenians in Artsakh.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that talks would continue in Washington, essentially rejecting the plea from Artsakh lawmakers and, at the same time, echoing the State Department, which said that while the U.S. was concerned about the incident in Artsakh, there would be “no change” in the schedule of the talks.

“Various media outlets have been circulating reports claiming that the authorities of Armenia have ceased contacts with their Nagorno Karabakh colleagues at all levels. Furthermore, the reports claim that the humanitarian crisis resulting from the blockade of Lachin Corridor is outside of the agenda of the government of Armenia,” said Pashinyan’s spokesperson Nazeli Baghadasryan, who called the claimed “untrue.”

“It is worth noting that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has stated on many occasions that he maintains intensive, daily contacts with Arayik Harutyunyan [the Artsakh President], Baghdasaryan added. “The Nagorno Karabakh President has confirmed this in public speeches and various other venues.”

“As a reminder, a working group led by Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Khachatryan was set up in late 2022 with the purpose of managing the humanitarian crisis resulting from the blockade of the Lachin Corridor and supporting the people of Nagorno Karabakh, tasked with monitoring humanitarian issues together with the authorities of Nagorno Karabakh and providing the necessary urgent support, including with the help of international organizations,” Pashinyan’s spokesperson said.

“The working group is composed of the Minister of Healthcare, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructrures, Minister of Economy, as well as representatives of other government agencies,” Baghdasaryan explained.