About
List of FACS Board Members:
Honarary Board Board of Directors Executive Board Advisory Board |
Members Stella Aftandilian Jirair Hovsepian Armineh Mirzabegian M.D. John Aftandilian Sandra Aghababian Karen Arakelian-Ucuz Robert M. Avakian Jack Avedisian George Changelian Donna Daniels Anna Demurjian Nancy J. Derderian Mary Goudsouzian Garen B. Gregorian Zareh Gregorian Varant Hagopian, M.D. Edgar Harlan Lori Chobanian Harlan Robert Hasserjian, M.D. Robert A. Kaloosdian, Esq. James Kalustian Nancy R. Kolligian Charles Kouyoumjian Jessica B. Manguikian Monique Momjian Martin L. Saradjian Elliot M. Vanetzian Carol A. Yeghiayan |
Fifty Years Ago………
By Virginia A. Tashjian
Sometime in latter half of the 1940’s a young Armenian American medical student, overworked and completely inundated by his professional duties at Boston’s University Hospital, used whatever scant personal time he could steal, to indulge in his favorite hobby of listening to classical music – and especially, ARMENIAN classical music.
Fortunately for him, just about the time he was completing a resident fellowship at the Mass General Hospital, Armenian classical music was coming into its own in the western world with such composers as Khachaturian, Spendiarian, and the like producing important and well critiqued compositions.
Whenever possible during weekends, the young resident, Dr. Keran Chobanian, tried to escape to his hometown of Pawtucket, R.I.; there, he listened to his slowly growing hoard of Armenian Classical recordings he was regularly purchasing from Boston music stores.
Dr. Chobanian talked his Pawtucket young friends into listening with him - and a regular group of them, including his friend, Rub Krikorian, gathered to listen together, calling themselves, “friends of Armenian music.”
As time went on, Keran Chobanian began to dream about a formalized structure of classical music loving Armenians who would introduce Armenian music to a larger audience. He talked to his Boston friend, Hairenik Publications Editor James H. Tashjian whose own love of classical music provided an enthusiastic, more than willing ear. In subsequent and frequent lunch meetings at the old Boston Childs Restaurant, the two men talked, planned and plotted.
Soon thereafter, friends Dr. Arthur Shushan and conductor/composer Rouben Gregorian joined the original two; Oakley Country Club in Belmont became a second place for lunch and planning strategy.
Finally, insurance executive John Baronian, business expert Jack Avedisian, and recognized organist Berj Zamkochian joined the group to make the “original 7”. Each of these men responded with enthusiasm to the challenge of creating an organization to bring Armenian classical music to the Armenian public.
They eagerly offered unique suggestions for the immediate implementation of such a group which would highlight not only Armenian music but several other aspects of Armenian culture as well.
After several enthusiastic and tumultuous meetings at the Tashjian home, an excited group of 7 men formally announced the formation, in 1949, of “ The Friends of the Armenian Culture Society, Inc.” (FACS) whose mission was “to perpetuate, disseminate, present and encourage various aspects of Armenian Culture in the United States so as to further enrich the Armenian cultural Heritage.” (FACS was incorporated as a non-profit, tax-exempt organization in 1961. At the time, Robert A Kallosdian, Esquire and scientist Dr. Victor Aftandilian joined the original “7”.)
It must be noted here, for the record, that the original “group of 7 men” were not alone in their enthusiasm for the project. A devoted, hard-working group of female spouses and siblings not only shared their enthusiasm, but utilized their own gifts of journalism, secretarial skills, hostessing, culinary arts, etc. to the venture not only during those early years… but all through its fifty plus years of history. Indeed, there exists in the FACS archives a formal portrait of the original “Pops Ladies” dressed in formal gowns and looking very purposeful!
After a discussion with Arthur Fiedler at his suggestion, it was decided that FACS’ first major offering would be the sponsorship of Armenian Night at the Pops in 1952… a massive undertaking for a fledging organization.
Once again, numerous meetings were convened at the Tashjian residence. Outstanding members of the Armenian community who could sell tickets and publicize the Pops were invited to the meetings and socialized for any type of help they could contribute.
The Symphony Hall tickets were laid out in sections in the Tashjian living room; assignments for disbursement were made; in fact, that first year can best be described as a sort of organized bedlam! BUT…Armenian Night at the Pops was a success!!! Today, FACS heralds its 50th year of showcasing numerous premier performances by Armenian composers and featuring many prominent artists and promising new artists of Armenian descent.
However….FACS has done much more than sponsor the Pops; indeed, its goal of “enriching the Armenian cultural heritage” in this past half century has included a plethora of accomplishments of varying descriptions.
For 30 consecutive years, from 1957 to 1993, FACS presented the Armenian Culture Radio Program on Boston WCRB Fm airing Armenian classical and folk music and broadcasting news of Armenian cultural events.
In 1969, a concert of Sharagans at Jordan Hall in Boston commemorated John F. Kennedy’s untimely death. (A recording of this program remains part of the archives at the JFK Library.)
Some other memorable musical events through the years included:
- The Boston premiere of “Come Creative Spirit” conducted by Rouben Gregorian with contralto Lili Chookasian, members of the Boston Symphony and choruses from the Boston Conservatory and Radcliffe Choral Society.- A program honoring the late composer, Aram Khachaturian.
- Jordan Hall recitals presenting Kanonist Ara Sevanian, Metropolitan Opera Bass-baritone Ara Berberian and a young Artists’ Festival.
- Programs of tribute to soprano Lucine Amara of the Metropolitan Opera, composer Alan Hovhaness, conductor Richard Yardumian, Arthur Fiedler, Rouben Gregorian, Keith Lockhart (1995), Harry Ellis Dickson (1996), Seiji Ozawa (1997), Dr. Elizabeth Gregory (1998), Helen Shushan (1999), Harry Shapiro & Roger Voisin (1999), Lili Chookasian (2000)
- A program of Hymns and Heroic Ballads for solo voices and brass quintet by Rouben Gregorian under the direction of Roger Voisin at the Tufts Cohen auditorium in 1990.
- Publication of a newsletter (FACS Libretto) (9 issues to date) edited by Bob Avakian and his dedicated staff to record FACS activities for the community.
- The establishment of a FACS endowed scholarship at the Tanglewood Music Center for an annual scholarship for a talented young performing artist, conductor or composer of Armenian descent.
- The donation of $6000 to the Yerevan Philharmonic Orchestra.
The list of FACS accomplishments is long; much of the half century of success must go to the hard working group of people who have comprised the Honorary Board, the Board of Directors, the Associate Board of Directors and the prestigious Advisory Board.
Last but most important have been the indomitable and unflagging efforts of the two FACS executives who must be lauded for outstanding yeoman service: Dr. Keran Chobanian, Chairman of the Board and Dr. Varant Hagopian President of the Board for the past years.
Ably aiding both men in an important executive secretarial role for these past crucial years has been Anna Demurjian.
The next half century for FACS will begin in 2001 with new President, Bob Avakian with an enormous undertaking on Nov. 4, 2001 at Symphony Hall with the presentation of a premiere performance of the Komitas version of the Divine Armenian Liturgy, reconstructed from carefully researched original sources by Rouben Gregorian and composed by him in symphonic form for full orchestra, chorus and soloists.
In this year of the celebration of the 1700th year of Christianity accepted by Armenia as a state religion in 301 A.D., it is most fitting that FACS should present the Gregorian Symphonic Armenian Mass as a significant contribution to Armenians everywhere. This impressive program will be, of course, a milestone moment in FACS’ vision of its own mission in behalf of Armenian culture and Armenian music.
The November program will be performed by musicians affiliated with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops Orchestra and Esplanade Orchestra and conducted by Leon Gregorian. Also performing will be the Chorus Pro Musica (Jeffrey Rink, conductor) and four outstanding soloists who enjoy international fame and great stature as opera singers.