Hamazkayin Music Committee celebrates 20 years of success
Evening marks the release of 31-song Sayat Nova set and children’s DVD By Paul Chaderjian GLENDALE, Calif. – In front of the black backdrop of the stage, a spotlight from above illuminates the pianist and the piano. The beige and-brown grand piano is a Petrof; the suit-clad pianist is none other than one of the culture’s shining stars: Armen Babakhanian. This performance, this evening – celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Hamazkayin Music Committee – has the audience of nearly 300 mesmerized. “Excellent, excellent, excellent,” says Rita Demirjian, a supporter of the arts and a community activist. “I always have high expectations from the Hamazkayin, but tonight’s program went beyond my expectations.” This story begins two decades ago when the Western United States Executive Board of the Hamazkayin Armenian Educational and Cultural Society created its music committee. The goal was to document and promote Armenian music by publishing and recording mus...