Fifty Years of Excellence in Promoting Armenian Classical Music

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, Dr. Keran Chobanian, Chairman of the Board and Dr. Varant Hagopian President of the Board for the past years.

FACS’ first major offering would be the sponsorship of Armenian Night at the Pops in 1952… a massive undertaking for a fledging organization. Today, FACS heralds its 50^th year of showcasing numerous premier performances by Armenian composers and featuring many prominent artists and promising new artists of Armenian descent.

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 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 1700^th 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.