Letter from the President

March 10, 2010

Dear Friends,

It is with great pleasure that I write to inform you about the 59th annual Armenian Night at the Pops, to be held on Saturday, June 19 at 8:00 pm at Boston’s magnificent Symphony Hall. A reception will follow the concert.

Our featured soloist for the evening will be the renowned pianist Armen Babakhanian. The program will feature Gershwin’s colorful Rhapsody in Blue for piano & orchestra and an excerpt from Aram Khachaturian’s powerful piano concerto. Maestro Keith Lockhart will be at the podium and the evening will mark the 125th anniversary of the Boston Pops by paying tribute to the three music directors of the orchestra: Maestros Arthur Fiedler, John Williams, and Lockhart.

Born in Yerevan, Armen Babakhanian first gained international recognition with his memorable performances at the 9th Van Cliburn Competition in Texas in 1993. He is also a laureate of several other prestigious competitions, including The Leeds, Gina Bachauer, William Kappell, and the World Piano Competition. Mr. Babakhanian has made appearances around the world, including recitals at Boston’s Jordan Hall and the Tsai Performing Center.

Enclosed you will find a ticket order form along with a return envelope for your convenience. Ordering tickets by April 17 provides savings, priority seating, and a chance to win gifts in a drawing at the post-concert reception. Tickets can also be purchased online at no additional charge by visiting our website at www.FACSBoston.org. A portion of the ticket prices is tax deductible with proceeds funding FACS’ ongoing projects and presentations.

I would like to take this opportunity to inform you about two unique musical events. On Wednesday, April 7, the charismatic cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan will perform at Symphony Hall with the Philharmonia Orchestra of the New England Conservatory, where he currently is a candidate for an Artist Diploma. NEC has generously offered the FACS community a limited number of discounted tickets, available for purchase at our website.

Also, on Sunday, May 16, FACS will host an afternoon presentation and concert by renowned Armenian composer-pianist Artur Avanesov, who will speak on contemporary Armenian composers and offer a sampling of their music. The 4:00 PM event will take place at the Armenian Cultural Foundation in Arlington. Admission is free and open to the public; however, due to limited space, an e-mail reservation is encouraged (info@FACSBoston.org). Please visit our website for more details.

We hope you will join us in these events in celebration of our musical heritage. As always, we extend our sincere gratitude for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Ara Arakelian
President