On Sunday, February 28, 2016, at Aleppo "George Yesayan" Hall, the troubled Aleppo Armenians got the opportunity to enjoy the brilliant concert of Hamazkayin "Zvartnots" Choir. The choirmaster Gayane Simonian- Derian conducted the concert accompanied on piano by Ruzan Barsoumian.
The concert began with the anthems of Armenia and Syria. Then the audience honored the memory of the martyrs of Syria by standing a moment of silence.
Maria Poshkezenian delivered the opening speech saying that the Hamazkayin Society stays faithful to its mission standing beside our people presenting and filling their life with Armenian culture.
Raffy Soulahian made an opening speech in Arabic saying that Aleppo continues to be sentenced to death and is still standing as a fortress with its population. The victorious concert of the ″Zvartnots" Choir proved it.
In the first part of the program, the Choir presented the following songs: "Our Father" by Yekmalyan, "Free Armenia" by Stepan Lusikian (dedicated to the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s re-independence), a range of wedding songs by Gomidas, "My Native Home" by N. Ispirian, a range of patriotic songs arranged by Gayane Simonyan-Derian, some excerpts from ″Anoush″ opera - "Hambardzum Yayla", "Vush Vush", "Ampi Takits" by Tigranyan and arranged by Gayane Simonian- Derian, "Enzeli" by Al. Spendiaryan, arranged by Gayane Simonyan-Deryan (this song was accompanied by dancing of Hamazkayin’s "Sardarapat" Ensemble), "Earth Song" by Michael Jackson and Arabic songs "Reyetek pel aali", "Al Hakku silahi."
The songs performed in the second part of the program were all arranged by the choirmaster Gayane Simonyan-Derian. The following songs were performed then: "Ehey, Rize" by Y. Badalian, "I Wish this New Year Could," by R. Hakhverdian, "My City of Aleppo"- lirycs by Margaret Shamilian-Mouradian, music by Gayane Simonyan-Derian, "Helwa Ya baladi″ by Dalida, "Aparan" by R. Bedrosian, "Antsnum es Nazov" by Al. Ajemian, "Moscow Nights" by S. Setoy, "Blue Violet" by M. Mavisakalian, "Ari Yar Jan", "Hoy Nar" by T. Altounian and "Armenia" by A. Ayvazian.
Some of the performances were accompanied by the Chamber Orchestra, which made the concert more charming.
Dr. Rafi Apechian prepared the instrumental arrangements of some songs.
Maria Sarkissian conducted the concert making commentaries to the performed songs.
Due to the meticulous work and tireless efforts of the Choir’s 60 singers and the choirmaster Gayane Simonyan-Deryan, the audience enjoyed many delightful moments during the concert. The brilliant performances even of the most difficult songs once again thundered the name of the ″Zvartnots" Choir. The victorious concert proved that the Armenian community in Aleppo lives and breathes and is strong with the live spirit of the Armenian culture.