On June 7, 2024, the centennial of the birth of the poet Paruyr Sevak was celebrated with a student recital at the Hamazkayin Center in Qamishli under the auspices of the Hamazkayin Regional Executive Board for Syria. The event was organized by the Avedis Aharonian Chapter Executive Board, with the participation of the students of the united national middle and high schools.
Talar Mardirosian was the emcee. She welcomed participants and invited chapter president Shushan Artin to speak. Ms. Artin thanks the parents, students, and administration for their cooperation and argued that such events should be held regularly so that the new generation comes to know our literature well.
The competition took place in two stages. Eight participants took turns reciting, after which the jury expressed their views. Suzy Hovhannesian read the poet’s biography and showed a video.
The jury consulted and announced that the winners in the middle school category were Ava Gharibian (first place), Kevork and Garo Garabedian (second), and Garo Sarkisian (third).
In the secondary school category, the winners were
First Place: Gayel Sarkisian
Second Place: Karen Tovmasian
Third Place: Melisia Simonian
Fourth Place: Mariamig Garabedian
The first-place winners each received a copy of the newly published, Paruyr Sevak: 100 Poems, which was a gift to the chapter from the regional board. The second- and third-place winners received a copy of books by Hagop Oshagan and Mgrdich Beshigtashlian. All participants received certificates of participation from the board.
At the end of the program, Rita Der Sarkisian, member of the Regional Executive Board, thanked the members of the jury, Hasmig Bokoyian, Apig Kehyayian and Meghri Asilian. She spoke also about the importance of the Armenian language and of getting young people to read Armenian books.
The evening concluded with a group photo.
