EXCELLENCE IN PROMOTING ARMENIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC

 

Much of the 60+ years of FACS success has been due 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. And of course it all started and flourished thanks to the vision and the unflagging efforts of the two FACS executives, Dr. Keran Chobanian, Chairman of the Board, and Dr. Varant Hagopian, President of the Board for many years.

 

FACS’ first major offering was the sponsorship of Armenian Night at the Pops in 1952 – a massive undertaking for a fledging organization. Today, FACS heralds its 63rd year of showcasing numerous premier performances by Armenian composers and featuring many prominent artists and promising new artists of Armenian descent.

 

FACS’ goal of “enriching the Armenian cultural heritage” included a plethora of projects other than Armenian Night at the POPS.

 

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.)

 

 

OTHER MEMORABLE MUSICAL EVENTS

 

- 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.