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Hyeaid Concert Yields Results For Syrian-Armenian Relief

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  • Hyeaid Concert Yields Results For Syrian-Armenian Relief

    HYEAID CONCERT YIELDS RESULTS FOR SYRIAN-ARMENIAN RELIEF
    BY RITA HINTLIAN

    http://asbarez.com/106573/hyeaid-concert-yields-results-for-syrian-armenian-relief/
    Thursday, November 15th, 2012

    Featured musicians perform a group finale at HyeAid Concert to benefit
    Syrian-Armenian Relief Fund


    PASADENA-Veteran's Day 2012 will be forever imprinted in the minds of
    almost 3,000 people who attended the HyeAID benefit concert to help
    the Armenian community in Syria at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in
    Pasadena, California.

    The artists from local and as far away as Armenia, England and France
    literally rocked the house and the audience, young and old, responded.

    They were moved with the songs of sorrow, longing and anguish, and
    laughed at the comedic remarks of the artists, who switched to upbeat
    songs to cheer up the audience.

    The variety program started with the classics performed by the Hi-Am
    Quartet. Throughout the program, scenes of destruction of homes,
    schools, stores, homes for the elderly, group home for children, and
    churches, including the Armenian Genocide memorial church complex in
    Der Zor, were shared with the audience.

    Syrian Armenian Relief Fund (SARF) Executive Committee Chairperson,
    Zaven Khanjian, spoke on behalf of the 10 organizations that make
    up SARF. Western Prelate Arch. Moushegh Mardirossian, Diocese former
    Primate Arch. Vache Hovsepian, Rev. Fr. Krikor Chahinian, and Rev.

    Jospeh Matossian represented their churches, also present was
    the Prelate of Damascus, Bishop Armash Nalbandian. In addition,
    Counsel General of the Republic of Armenia, Grigor Hovhannissian,
    Avedik Izmirlian of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Central
    Committee, Vazken Khodanian of the Social Democrat Hunchakian Party,
    Armenian Relief Society Central Executive Chairperson Vicky Marashlian
    and member Ani Keshishian, and Western U.S.A. Regional Executive
    Lena Bozoyan, and Armenian General Benevolent Union representative
    Tomig Alexanian. Also present was Heritage Party Chairperson Raffi
    Hovhannisian.

    The concert was organized in association with Artists for Kids.

    Khanjian's upbeat message reaffirmed that the Syrian Armenian
    community will prevail, it will resurrect and it will resume it's
    role as the overflowing mother of all Diaspora Communities. Showing
    very old photo of very young scouts marching on the sports field,
    his poetic message was that the young scouts will return. He invited
    three students, representing their schools, which collected donations
    as Grand Sponsors of the event, along with Karoun Dairies, represented
    by Antranig Baghdassarian.

    Aleeque Marselian from Vahan and Anoush Chamlian Armenian School,
    Tamar Gharibian from Rose and Alex Pilibos Armenian School, and
    Eddie Hovhannesian from Holy Martyrs Ferrahian High School, also
    representing Cabayan Elementery School, handed the checks from their
    respective schools. Armineh Khatchatourian, Chamlian Board Chair;
    Rita Kaprielian, Vice Principal of Chamlian; Dr. Alina Dorian,
    Principal of Pilibos; and John Kossakian, Principal of Ferrahian were
    present, along with many students, faculty members and administrators,
    collectively showing that the youth have taken the lead in lending a
    hand to their less fortunate compatriots in Syria. Khanjian read the
    thank you letter sent by Arch. Shahan Sarkissian, Prelate of Aleppo,
    on behalf of the three denominations and the community. It is hoped
    that $250,000, raised from this concert and other fundraising events,
    will be forwarded in the near future.

    The ethno-rock group, Element Band, continued the program with soloist
    Soseh Keshishyan. Element Band members also individually accompanied
    some of the vocalists, who followed them later during the program.

    An 89-year old young soloist Souren Khavejian, who was originally from
    Syria, was accompanied on the accordion by Ara Dabandjian. The Dirty
    Diamond, an LA-Based band performed next, with Sam Babayan with the
    lead vocalist on the guitar. They were followed by Charming Liars,
    who flew from London. Their guitarist, Karnig Manoukian, expressed
    his excitement in sharing the stage with so many fantastic artists.

    The youth were present once again, as Armen Movsisyan appeared, and
    then was joined by his Guitar Studio students. The VIZA band was next,
    a band for whom contributing what they can is a way of life. Lilit
    Pipoyan from Armenia sang and played very moving lyrics on the piano,
    then on the guitar.

    Actor-director Vahe Berberian, explained that he had a chance to
    visit Syria four years ago, and felt their warmth, nationalistic and
    welcoming spirit. He urged everyone to assist the Syrian Armenians,
    since they are a part of us, and then introduced his idol, Arto
    Tuncboyaciyan. Tuncboyaciyan roared the audience with his comedic
    jests, remembered the martyr soldiers dying on the Artsakh border,
    urged people to act as human beings, not make bad things happen due to
    their greediness, and speak about problems, lest they fester forever.

    A group of young singers accompanies him and once again, the youth
    outnumbered the adults.

    TV personality and journalist Arshalouys Tarpinian applauded the
    high level of artistry during the program, praised the audience for
    supporting the benefit concert and quoted from Karekin Njdeh regarding
    the success of our endeavors with collective responsibility. She
    introduced composer Ruben Hakhverdyan. Hakhverdyan was eager to explain
    the truth about the Armenian spirit, flexible yet protective of its
    culture and values. He explained that we hyphenate our Armenian-ism,
    but the Syrian Armenians are just us, our people.

    Producer-Director Carla Garabedian observed that we stand in solidarity
    with our brothers and sisters in Syria, and introduced the father
    and son team, Khatchadoor and Serj Tankian, who performed next.

    Serj Tankian remarked that "all the artists that played tonight
    were incredible."

    The curtains closed after one more song with all the vocalists
    on the stage, a nostalgic song about longing and being home-sick,
    "Tercheyi Mdkov".

    Following the concert, Aram Alajajian, of the Artists for Kids,
    thanked all the participating artists, and remarked that this was
    "the greatest event we ever put together. It was really a crown."

    The crisis in Syria continues. Contributions can be mailed to Syrian
    Armenian Relief Fund, P.O. Box 1948, Glendale, CA 91209-1948 or by
    credit card at www.SyrianArmenianReliefFund.org.

    The San Francisco community will hold a benefit concert on Sunday,
    November 18, 2012 at 5 pm, at the Khachaturian Armenian Community
    Center, Saroyan Hall, 825 Brotherhood Way, San Francisco, CA (the
    cost of admission is $25).

    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.

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