The Philadelphia Chapter of Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society on May 19, 2024, celebrated the end of the academic year with performances by the Meghry Dance Ensemble and the Akhtamar Choral Group at a concert featuring the renowned pianist and composer Serouj Kradjian. The event was held at the Armenian Sisters’ Academy in Radnor, Pennsylvania. Some 200 community members joined the nuns and priests.
The concert kicked off with the national anthems of the United States and Armenia performed by the choral group, conducted by Hamazkayin Regional Executive Board secretary Maroush Paneyan-Nigon. After the anthems, Chapter Executive Board chairperson Lorig Baronian spoke.
Welcoming the guests, Ms. Baronian spoke briefly of the cultural and educational mission of Hamazkayin and its activities in the diaspora and Armenia and its involvement with children uprooted from Artsakh and students in Lebanon and Syria.
The program was rich and expertly organized; the performances followed each other without delays. The Meghry Dance Ensemble started with the “Ejmiatzin” dance, which portrays an ancient worship ritual, followed by the “Hayasdan” dance. Harout Keoseyan sang three songs. Creating a joyful atmosphere, he had the audience participate in the rendition of folk songs. Meghry and Akhtamar followed each other, with Akhtamar performing four songs, while Meghry danced “Mama,” dedicated to all mothers, “Papur,” a traditional village dance that portrays the suffering of evil spirits, and the traditional “Kochari,” a coming-of-age dance for young men.
The second part of the program followed with no intermission. Ms. Baronian presented the special guest. A pianist and composer, Serouj Kradjian was born in Beirut and studied piano with Boghos Gelalian. After studying on a scholarship in Vienna, he enrolled at the University of Toronto Faculty of Music, where he earned his bachelor of arts degree in piano performance in 1994. He also studied at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hanover, receiving a solo performance degree in 2001. She noted that he has won various medals and his Gomidas Songs, released in 2008 were nominated for a Grammy.
Mr. Kradjian first thanked Hamazkayin and his audience and began his performance with renditions of Rachmaninoff and Aznavour. He then performed Arno Babajianian's “Sareri Aghjik” and “Zartir Lao.” He concluded his performance with Giligia, asking the audience to join him. They did so on their feet. It was a moving scene.
The applause continued for some time, with the hall shaking.
When Ms. Baronian was able to offer closing remarks, she deeply thanked all the donors for their generous contributions. She was grateful to the clergy and nuns, members of Hamazkayin, and the community that supports the organization. She invited the artistic director and pianist of the choral group, the director of the dance ensemble, Mr. Keoseyan, and Mr. Kradjian to join her on the stage. The young women of Meghry gave each of them a beautiful bouquet of flowers.
A reception followed.
