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Open Music Society Foundation
Media Contact: Alina Koutnouyan
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 818-649-8653
ARMENIAN ARTISTS TAKE ON UNIQUE CHALLENGE OF PERFORMING AT SPACE
SHUTTLE CEREMONY
Endeavour will land at LAX on September 20
Los Angeles, August 30, 2012 - A group of over 30 artists from the
Open Music Society Foundation (OMSF) will perform during the arrival
ceremony of Space Shuttle Endeavour, an invitation-only event which
will be held at Los Angeles International Airport on September 20.
Endeavour, which completed its last mission in 2011, will be flown on
the back of a modified Boeing 747 from Florida's Kennedy Space Center
to LAX. It will remain at the airport a few weeks before being
transferred to the California Science Center, which was named by NASA
as the new home of the shuttle.
A Los Angeles-based arts organization, the OMSF has been working
closely with the California Science Center Foundation to design an
integrated artistic program for the shuttle's arrival ceremony.
Components of the program will be performed at various stages of the
event, which will include appearances by dignitaries, the dramatic
landing and taxiing of Endeavour, and rolling of the red carpet to
welcome the storied spacecraft. The ceremony will take place at an
United Airlines hangar.
`Imagine being part of such an extraordinary celebration,' said Aram
Gharabekian, the OMSF's artistic director and conductor. `The arrival
ceremony will engage the entire Greater Los Angeles community, like a
large, united family paying homage to an American scientific icon,
through an event we will experience only once in our lifetime.'
`I feel privileged to be surrounded with so many talented
professionals who make up our team,' Gharabekian continued. `And it's
been a joy working with the California Science Center team, led by
President and CEO Jeff Rudolph, whose vision, enthusiasm, and support
have been a source of inspiration. '
Gharabekian also spoke of the daunting task of mounting artistic
performances in an industrial environment. `We were faced with three
main challenges: the excessive noise level of LAX, one of the nation's
busiest airports; the absence of a performance stage inside
the hangar; and the lack of natural acoustics in the structure,' he
explained. `We had to be creative in an unorthodox manner to overcome
these challenges. Thanks to the resourcefulness and guidance of our
production team, we designed performances which will take place in
`virtual' and `mobile' spaces inside and outside the hangar, with
minimal noise interference from plane takeoffs and landings.'
Gharabekian added that the production team `will capture every moment
and emotion of this historic event on film.'
Apart from Gharabekian, the OMSF artistic team includes Aida
Amirkhanian. A dancer, choreographer, theater director, and Iyengar
Yoga instructor, Amirkhanian has performed and collaborated with
several world-renowned companies, among them Maurice Béjart's Ballet
du XXème Siècle, the Human Veins Dance Theatre, the Canberra Dance
Theatre, and Jigsaw Theatre Company. Amirkhanian has performed at many
of the world's most prestigious venues, among them Covent Garden
in London, Thétre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, the Odeon of Herodes
Atticus in Athens, and the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires.
The OMSF production team is headed by executive producer Alina
Koutnouyan, the foundation's COO and a founding member of its Board.
`We are fortunate to be collaborating with some of the best talent in
the business,' Koutnouyan said. `Our production and artistic teams
have come up with some wonderful solutions to overcome the logistical
difficulties of performing at an airport, within the limited time
frame of the arrival ceremony. We are equally privileged to have a
skilled Board task force, which has taken on the challenge of raising
funds in a very short span, aiming to assist the California Science
Center in organizing Endeavour's arrival ceremony.'
Members of the production team include producer Keith Dixon, live-
television director Mark Mardoyan, production director Raffi
Ganoumian, and event designer Arsine Shirvanian.
Owner of Patterson Avenue Productions, Keith Dixon has executive-
produced scores of corporate events throughout the globe, produced or
directed more than 3,000 corporate television productions, and
directed more than 400 interactive, multilingual television
broadcasts.
Emmy-Award-winning live-television director Mark Mardoyan's credits
include top-rated productions such as `World Magic Awards,' `Masters
of Illusion,' `Impossible Magic,' `Heroes Among Us,' and `Hollywood
Christmas Parade.'
Raffi Ganoumian of Neptune Productions is a highly regarded event
producer. His body of work includes major productions such as the
Congressional Medal of Honor ceremony at the Ronald Reagan
Presidential Library, and promotional events for Nike, Hennessy Black,
and DirecTV.
Arsine Shirvanian of Shirvan Design is an acclaimed event designer,
with a portfolio that includes numerous corporate and private
occasions. Shirvanian's work has been featured in a number of
international publications.
As excitement builds, with rehearsals continuing at an intense pace in
the run-up to Space Shuttle Endeavor's arrival ceremony, Alina
Koutnouyan and OMSF founding Board member and CFO Varand Gourjian
expressed gratitude to the California Science Center.
`Amidst the myriad of logistical details and events spearheaded by the
California Science Center's visionary leadership, President and
CEO Jeff Rudolph and his colleagues were nonetheless able to devote
serious thought and effort to making the arrival ceremony an
unforgettable occasion,' Koutnouyan said.
Gourjian, on his part, stated, `It has been a pleasure working with a
receptive, forward-thinking institution such as the California Science
Center. We have established a very trusting and mutually respectful
relationship, and it's been great to witness the synergy between our
teams, in creating a memorable arrival for the shuttle.'
On the night of October 12, Endeavour will leave LAX, arriving the
next morning at Inglewood City Hall. =46rom there the shuttle will
travel through city streets to the California Science Center - the
first time a spacecraft will be transported through urban roadways.
Beginning October 30, Endeavour will be on display at the California
Science Center's Samuel Oschin Space Shuttle Endeavour Display
Pavilion while the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, a new addition
to the Science Center, is being built. The new wing is slated to be
completed in 2017.
About the OMSF: The Open Music Society Foundation is a nonprofit
organization dedicated to advancing musical education and mentorship
for young talent, and increasing public interest in the arts through
Open Music Fest, an unprecedented and unique series of arts festivals
in which artistic collaboration embraces cultural diversity, fostering
mutual understanding and appreciation. For more information, please
visit openmusicsociety.org
From: A. Papazian
Media Contact: Alina Koutnouyan
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 818-649-8653
ARMENIAN ARTISTS TAKE ON UNIQUE CHALLENGE OF PERFORMING AT SPACE
SHUTTLE CEREMONY
Endeavour will land at LAX on September 20
Los Angeles, August 30, 2012 - A group of over 30 artists from the
Open Music Society Foundation (OMSF) will perform during the arrival
ceremony of Space Shuttle Endeavour, an invitation-only event which
will be held at Los Angeles International Airport on September 20.
Endeavour, which completed its last mission in 2011, will be flown on
the back of a modified Boeing 747 from Florida's Kennedy Space Center
to LAX. It will remain at the airport a few weeks before being
transferred to the California Science Center, which was named by NASA
as the new home of the shuttle.
A Los Angeles-based arts organization, the OMSF has been working
closely with the California Science Center Foundation to design an
integrated artistic program for the shuttle's arrival ceremony.
Components of the program will be performed at various stages of the
event, which will include appearances by dignitaries, the dramatic
landing and taxiing of Endeavour, and rolling of the red carpet to
welcome the storied spacecraft. The ceremony will take place at an
United Airlines hangar.
`Imagine being part of such an extraordinary celebration,' said Aram
Gharabekian, the OMSF's artistic director and conductor. `The arrival
ceremony will engage the entire Greater Los Angeles community, like a
large, united family paying homage to an American scientific icon,
through an event we will experience only once in our lifetime.'
`I feel privileged to be surrounded with so many talented
professionals who make up our team,' Gharabekian continued. `And it's
been a joy working with the California Science Center team, led by
President and CEO Jeff Rudolph, whose vision, enthusiasm, and support
have been a source of inspiration. '
Gharabekian also spoke of the daunting task of mounting artistic
performances in an industrial environment. `We were faced with three
main challenges: the excessive noise level of LAX, one of the nation's
busiest airports; the absence of a performance stage inside
the hangar; and the lack of natural acoustics in the structure,' he
explained. `We had to be creative in an unorthodox manner to overcome
these challenges. Thanks to the resourcefulness and guidance of our
production team, we designed performances which will take place in
`virtual' and `mobile' spaces inside and outside the hangar, with
minimal noise interference from plane takeoffs and landings.'
Gharabekian added that the production team `will capture every moment
and emotion of this historic event on film.'
Apart from Gharabekian, the OMSF artistic team includes Aida
Amirkhanian. A dancer, choreographer, theater director, and Iyengar
Yoga instructor, Amirkhanian has performed and collaborated with
several world-renowned companies, among them Maurice Béjart's Ballet
du XXème Siècle, the Human Veins Dance Theatre, the Canberra Dance
Theatre, and Jigsaw Theatre Company. Amirkhanian has performed at many
of the world's most prestigious venues, among them Covent Garden
in London, Thétre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, the Odeon of Herodes
Atticus in Athens, and the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires.
The OMSF production team is headed by executive producer Alina
Koutnouyan, the foundation's COO and a founding member of its Board.
`We are fortunate to be collaborating with some of the best talent in
the business,' Koutnouyan said. `Our production and artistic teams
have come up with some wonderful solutions to overcome the logistical
difficulties of performing at an airport, within the limited time
frame of the arrival ceremony. We are equally privileged to have a
skilled Board task force, which has taken on the challenge of raising
funds in a very short span, aiming to assist the California Science
Center in organizing Endeavour's arrival ceremony.'
Members of the production team include producer Keith Dixon, live-
television director Mark Mardoyan, production director Raffi
Ganoumian, and event designer Arsine Shirvanian.
Owner of Patterson Avenue Productions, Keith Dixon has executive-
produced scores of corporate events throughout the globe, produced or
directed more than 3,000 corporate television productions, and
directed more than 400 interactive, multilingual television
broadcasts.
Emmy-Award-winning live-television director Mark Mardoyan's credits
include top-rated productions such as `World Magic Awards,' `Masters
of Illusion,' `Impossible Magic,' `Heroes Among Us,' and `Hollywood
Christmas Parade.'
Raffi Ganoumian of Neptune Productions is a highly regarded event
producer. His body of work includes major productions such as the
Congressional Medal of Honor ceremony at the Ronald Reagan
Presidential Library, and promotional events for Nike, Hennessy Black,
and DirecTV.
Arsine Shirvanian of Shirvan Design is an acclaimed event designer,
with a portfolio that includes numerous corporate and private
occasions. Shirvanian's work has been featured in a number of
international publications.
As excitement builds, with rehearsals continuing at an intense pace in
the run-up to Space Shuttle Endeavor's arrival ceremony, Alina
Koutnouyan and OMSF founding Board member and CFO Varand Gourjian
expressed gratitude to the California Science Center.
`Amidst the myriad of logistical details and events spearheaded by the
California Science Center's visionary leadership, President and
CEO Jeff Rudolph and his colleagues were nonetheless able to devote
serious thought and effort to making the arrival ceremony an
unforgettable occasion,' Koutnouyan said.
Gourjian, on his part, stated, `It has been a pleasure working with a
receptive, forward-thinking institution such as the California Science
Center. We have established a very trusting and mutually respectful
relationship, and it's been great to witness the synergy between our
teams, in creating a memorable arrival for the shuttle.'
On the night of October 12, Endeavour will leave LAX, arriving the
next morning at Inglewood City Hall. =46rom there the shuttle will
travel through city streets to the California Science Center - the
first time a spacecraft will be transported through urban roadways.
Beginning October 30, Endeavour will be on display at the California
Science Center's Samuel Oschin Space Shuttle Endeavour Display
Pavilion while the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, a new addition
to the Science Center, is being built. The new wing is slated to be
completed in 2017.
About the OMSF: The Open Music Society Foundation is a nonprofit
organization dedicated to advancing musical education and mentorship
for young talent, and increasing public interest in the arts through
Open Music Fest, an unprecedented and unique series of arts festivals
in which artistic collaboration embraces cultural diversity, fostering
mutual understanding and appreciation. For more information, please
visit openmusicsociety.org
From: A. Papazian