Around Town

Digital Archive of Armenian Music Accessible via Armenian Museum of America Website

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78 rpm records from the collection of the Armenian Museum of America are
being digitized, restored, and shared on its website under the Virtual Resources tab (Photo by
Jonathan Lizcano)

The following piece was provided by the Armenian Museum of America:

By Jesse Kenas Collins

Over the past year, the Armenian Museum of America’s Sound Archive program has taken a giant step forward. Each month, the Museum posts a handful of songs digitized and restored from its collection of 78 rpm records on its website along with a historical writeup about the artists. Along with more conventional musical recordings, some of the recordings touch on Armenian cultural, political, and educational history, as well as the history of recording technologies. The program is sponsored by a generous grant from the SJS Charitable Trust. The Museum hosted musicologist Ian Nagoski to its galleries to weave the story of the influential but largely forgotten soprano Zabelle Panosian, who was born in Bardizag and emigrated to Boston in 1907.

Around Town

Watertown Students Raise Money to Support the Armenian Relief Society

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The Armenian flag flies outside St. Stephens Armenian Apostolic Church located on Artsakh Street in East Watertown. (Courtesy of St. Stephen’s Church)

Watertown High School’s Armenian Club raised more than $1,100 to donate to the Armenian Relief Society in the wake of the ongoing conflict in Artsakh. The Armenian Weekly reported that the students held a bake sale recently to raise money to help people impact in the region, also known as Nagorno-Karabakh, which has displaced over 100,000 Armenians from the region.

Around Town

Armenian Culture Connection Holds First Events, More Planned

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The Armenian Culture Connection put on a performance at First Parish Church of Watertown. (Photo by ACC)

The following information was provided by the Armenian Culture Connection:

The Armenian Culture Connection (ACC) was founded six months ago in Boston. “Our mission,” says founder Ms. Izabella Djevalikian, “is to connect with Armenian and other cultural organizations in Greater Boston to promote Armenian Art and Culture to the public at large.”

ACC’s first project was its Armenian Youth Chorus, directed by Maestro Artur Veranian, the award-winning, internationally acclaimed choral/orchestral conductor. Armenian Culture Connection founder Izabella Djevalikian,

The chorus debuted on Friday, May 19th at the ACEC in Watertown to celebrate the 105th anniversary of the First Armenian Republic’s independence. ACC’s next event was the “Our Young Talents” concert on Sunday, May 21st, and was held at the First Parish of Watertown.

Entertainment

St. James Church Armenian Festival Features Music, Food, Kids Activities and More

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St. James Church’s Armenian Festival will be held on Sunday, June 11 from noon to 5 p.m., rain or shine. The festival features live Armenian music: Bob Raphalian, Jay Baronian, Leon Janikian, and Kenny Kalajian. Armenian food will be available, such as shish, losh, chicken kabobs, and vegaterian options. There will also be activities for kids, such as a moon bounce, face painting and more.

Around Town

Historical Society Showing Video on Armenians of Hood Rubber, Holding Annual Meeting

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The Historical Society of Watertown will host its Annual Members Meeting with Election of Board Members on Sunday, May 7, 2023 at 2 p.m. Immediately following: Screening and discussion of the documentary, “Destination Watertown: The Armenians of Hood Rubber” by Roger Hagopian. Come join the Historical Society and the Watertown Free Public Library for this compelling program! Watertown Free Public LibraryWatertown Savings Bank Meeting Room123 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472

The 65-minute documentary “is a timeless and universal story of immigrants escaping genocide and persevering through the hard life of factory work in America in the early decades of the 20th century.” The film contains interviews with stories and reflections of former employees of Armenian descent and East Watertown Residents, interspersed with personal and historic photographs, maps, documents, artifacts, and images of remnants of the old factory, once the largest of its kind in the world. A history lover since his youth, Roger is a graduate of the University of Mass. at Boston, where he received his degree in music.

Schools

Krikorian Foundation Offering Scholarships for Students with Armenian Heritage

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A screenshot from the Krikorian Foundation Scholarship website. The following information was provided by the Arisdine Krikorian Family Foundation:

The trustees of The Arisdine Krikorian Family Foundation, a section 501(c)(3) organization, launched its first annual scholarship award program. The Foundation was created by Rose and Sybil Krikorian, who were raised in Watertown and later moved to Belmont where they lived for many years. They were the daughters of Arisdine and Panos Krikorian, who were born and raised in Armenia. The last survivor of the Krikorian family, Rose, died in August 2021 at the age of 96.

Schools

Krikorian Foundation Launches Scholarship Program to Students of Armenian Descent

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A screenshot from the Krikorian Foundation Scholarship website. The following information was provided by the Arisdine Krikorian Family Foundation:

The trustees of The Arisdine Krikorian Family Foundation, a section 501(c)(3) organization,launched its first annual scholarship award program. The Foundation was created by Rose andSybil Krikorian, who were raised in Watertown and later moved to Belmont where they lived formany years. They were the daughters of Arisdine and Panos Krikorian, who were born and raised in Armenia. The last survivor of the Krikorian family, Rose, died in August 2021 at the age of 96.