With her powerful and dynamic vocal range, and her array of haute couture ensembles, Nune Yesayan’s recent North American tour drew hundreds of eager patrons to her performances in Detroit and Boston. These two stops on her tour were hosted by the Armenian Relief Society (ARS) Leola Sassouni chapter of Watertown; and co-hosted by Detroit’s five sister chapters—Maro, Shakeh, Sybille, Tsolig, and Zabel.
On September 18, more than 700 fans of Nune’s pop-infused renditions of traditional Armenian songs turned out at Watertown High School to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the ARS.
ARS Watertown Leola Sassouni chairperson Mayda Melkonian delivered welcoming remarks, noting the tireless efforts of the ARS in Armenia and the diaspora throughout its 95 years of existence. She outlined the many projects of the ARS, including the “Sponsor a Child” program; the “Sosseh” kindergarten, which the ARS sponsors; the ARS Mother and Child Birthing Center in Armenia; and the ARS One Day School programs that take place at Armenian schools throughout the region. Melkonian commended the dedicated members of the Cambridge Shushi chapter, the Lowell Lusintag chapter, the Worcester Knar chapter, the Springfield Ararat chapter, and the Ani and Arax chapters of Rhode Island who had united in Watertown to celebrate the ARS anniversary and enjoy Nune’s performance.
That evening, the Sayat Nova Dance Company of Watertown (SNDC), who took the stage with Nune during several of her songs, treated the audience to a special performance. Their rousing choreography was a tremendous complement to the chanteuse’s up-tempo numbers.
The following morning, Nune visited the Hairenik Building in Watertown, where she toured the offices of the Hairenik Weekly and the Armenian Weekly; and the ARS Regional and Central Executive.
The previous week, over 600 Nune fans and Detroit ARS supporters packed the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn on September 11 to hear the Armenian singer belt out her crowd-pleasing songs in her usual interactive manner.
It was all in celebration of the ARS’s 95th anniversary and the 62nd anniversary of the ARS Detroit Mid-Council.
The annual ARS anniversary was co-hosted by Detroit’s five sister chapters and raised operating funds for the ARS Zavarian Armenian One-Day School. The chapters, through the Mid-Council, worked for months to host Nune, who made her second Detroit appearance at the September event.
Joining Nune on stage in its first Detroit performance were dancers from the Vartan and Siranoush Gevorkian International Dance School of Los Angeles. Their rich costumes and fancy footwork generated hearty audience applause throughout the evening.
The festivities began with the singing of the Armenian and American national anthems by Stepan Karougian and an invocation by Rev. Daron Stepanian of St. Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church and Rev. Dr. Vahan Tootikian of the Armenian Congregational Church.
Mistress of ceremonies Georgi-Ann Oshagan welcomed the crowd to the anniversary celebration, but paused to note the significance of the September 11 date, as well as the recent Hurricane Katrina disaster in the U.S. Gulf Coast region. All rose for a moment of silence in remembrance of the September 11 victims and those who died in Katrina’s wake.
Oshagan also announced an ARS Eastern USA, Inc. fund drive for 22 Armenian hurricane survivor families displaced from New Orleans and moved to Baton Rouge, La.
“These families are without access to their possessions and money and without work,” she said. “A number of these evacuees are children. ARS chapters throughout the eastern USA—including Detroit’s five sister chapters—are encouraging our communities to help these families with a donation of any size to be sent to St. Garabed Armenian Church.” The crowd generously contributed nearly $700 by the evening’s end.
City of Dearborn City Councilman Robert A. Abraham took the stage to congratulate the ARS on its 95th anniversary on behalf of Dearborn Mayor Michael Guido and the entire Dearborn City Council. He presented the society with a special citation that states in part, “Your organization has set a stellar example for ongoing humanitarian concern and action, inspired by the charitable spirit of your dedicated members and contributors.”
Oshagan delivered the day’s ARS message in English, reminding the audience “since 1910, the Armenian Relief Society has worked tirelessly to provide relief to the needy, help to the stricken and infirm, education to the young, and hope to the elderly throughout the Diaspora and in Armenia, Artsakh, and Javakhk.
“From working in the United Nations as a non-governmental organization to making life better for hundreds of Armenian orphans to opening day care centers throughout Artsakh, the ARS is an active and vibrant organization looking forward to its centennial in 2010 with great anticipation.”
Oshagan also touched on ARS Eastern USA programs and the work of the ARS Detroit Maro, Shakeh, Sybille, Tsolig and Zabel chapters in operating the ARS Zavarian Armenian One Day School in West Bloomfield and Troy, Michigan. She invited parents to enroll their children in the Armenian school, noting, “The greatest gift a parent, or grandparent, can give an Armenian child is appreciation for Armenian language and culture, an appreciation which in turn will enrich our community for generations to come.”
Shakeh Basmajian gave the ARS message in Armenian, praising all hard-working ARS members who volunteer hundreds of hours a year to the organization's many international, regional, and local programs. Basmajian also remarked on the recent Hurricane Katrina disaster and the ARS’s quick response as a humanitarian organization to aid and assist the Armenian families and others.
“For 95 years, the ARS, with its 18,000 members around the world, has served the Armenian nation with dedication and sacrifice and it will continue to serve the Armenian people with even greater dedication as long as it exists,” she said.
After the ARS messages were delivered, Nune took to the stage launching into a scorching rendition of “Dle Yaman.” She followed that song with “Khorotik,” “Kghdja,” “Togh Mnam,” “Hala Hala.,” and over a dozen other old favorites and new songs. The dancers performed alone or with Nune throughout the evening.
Before the start of the second half of the show, 13 dedicated Detroit ARS members were recognized and awarded 50-year member certificates issued by the international ARS, Inc. ARS Eastern USA Board of Regional Directors member Ani Attar distributed certificates to the following 50-year ARS members: Arpine Brajovich (Shakeh chapter), Mary Davidian (Shakeh chapter), Anna Kaloian (Sybille chapter), Vergine Mempreian (Zabel chapter), Rose Mooradian (Sybille chapter), Meline Morukian (Maro chapter), Oghig Mouradian (Zabel chapter), Lusia Palanjian (Shakeh chapter), Parantsem Posigian (Maro chapter), Zarry Sarkisian (Sybille chapter), Yeretzgeen Arpine Shrikian (Maro chapter), Azadouhe Vartanian (Sybille chapter) and Marie Yessaian (Zabel chapter).
The ARS also gave thanks to all 2005 ARS anniversary donors for their generous support of the ARS and the Zavarian School. Donors were: Detroit ARF Azadamard Gomideh; St. Sarkis Armenian Church; Mr. and Mrs. Karl Sogoian; Attar Family; Rita Dilanian; Mr. and Mrs. Edward Korkoian and Christopher; Dr. Arthur Hamparian; Armen Topouzian; Mr. and Mrs. Aram Najarian; Pearl Mooradian; Mr. and Mrs. John Manoogian; Mr. and Mrs. Edward Arakelian; Mr. and Mrs. Ned Apigian; Mr. and Mrs. Sirop Ghazourian; Elsie Martin; Mr. and Mrs. Victor Papakhian; Barkey and David Mossoian; Gregory Kerkorian; Mr. and Mrs. Craig Kurkechian; Salpie Papakhian Hughes; Mr. and Mrs. Popken Harabedian; and Jack Garbooshian.
For more information about the ARS Mid-Council and the ARS Zavarian Armenian One-Day School, call Ani Attar at (248) 661-3038. For more information about the ARS Eastern USA activities, visit www.arseastus.org.