Celebration of Armenian Tunes: Exposure to the Rich Soundscapes of Armenian Melodies
On May 31, 2022, the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music is set to host a special event, "A Day of Armenian Music - Music of Connections." This concert, scheduled for 12:00 pm at Schoenberg Hall, will be free and open to the public, with live streaming available for those unable to attend.
The concert promises an exciting lineup, featuring renowned artists and scholars specializing in Armenian music. Two guest artists, Hasmik Harutyunyan, a leading Armenian folk singer for two decades, and jazz pianist Vardan Ovsepian, will lead workshops discussing their Armenian roots and musical paths. Both artists are expected to perform during the concert as well.
In addition to the guest artists, two student ensembles, the VEM Ensemble and the UCLA Armenian Music Ensemble, will also take the stage. The VEM Ensemble, composed of UCLA students, has gained critical acclaim for their performances around Los Angeles, North America, and Europe. The UCLA Armenian Music Ensemble, on the other hand, is a group of students who enrol in a two-quarter class and learn to play Armenian music on traditional Armenian instruments.
The Armenian Music Program, which started nine years ago with a single student ensemble-in-residence, has grown substantially over the past decade. It now focuses on cultivating scholarship and art music at the highest level while bringing Armenian culture into contact with a wider audience. As part of its mission, the program offers community outreach, including treating students from Armenian schools to a campus tour, pizza, folk dancing, and the opportunity to speak with volunteers from the UCLA Armenian Student Association.
The concert and the workshops are not the only highlights of the day. After the events, concertgoers are invited to reunite outside Schoenberg Hall for a communal dance class and book fair. The whole event has received wholehearted support from various Armenian organizations, including the Lark Musical Society, Armenian General Benevolent Union, Tekeyan Cultural Association, Armenian Assembly of America, Armenian Educational Foundation, Armenian Allied Arts Association, UCLA Armenian Student Association, and UCLA Promise Armenian Institute.
For more information about the featured artists or the event, you can visit the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music's official archives or announcements. This promises to be a day filled with music, culture, and connections, and we encourage everyone to join in the celebration.
Attendees can expect not only a captivating concert and workshops with artists Hasmik Harutyunyan and Vardan Ovsepian, but also opportunities for education-and-self-development through learning about their Armenian roots and musical paths. After the afternoon's events, entertainment continues with a communal dance class and a book fair, making it a comprehensive day of Armenian music, culture, and connections for all attendees.
