WATERTOWN, Mass. – In response to the plight of Syria’s Armenian communities, and to provide much needed humanitarian assistance, the Greater Boston community on Sat., April 20, will hold a Benefit Concert for the Syrian Armenian Relief Fund (SARF).
The event is to begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Museum of our National Heritage, 33 Marrett Rd., Lexington and will feature internationally renowned artists and local arts and cultural organizations. Tenor Yeghishe Manucharyan and his wife, mezzo-soprano Victoria Avetisyan will perform during the “classical music” portion of the evening, joining soprano Knarik Nerkararyan, violinist Levon Chilingirian, and pianists Lilit Karapetian-Shougarian and Zaven Parsamian. The program will also feature the world premiere of a work for violin and piano, written for the occasion by Boston-based composer Ara Sarkissian.
Hamazkayin’s Erebouni Dance Ensemble, the Sayat Nova Dance Company, the Abaka School of Music’s dance group, the Zangakner Performing Arts Ensemble, as well as the Arev Armenian Ensemble will participate in the folk part of the concert.
This spectacular concert will bring together the community in a show of conscious support to our brothers and sisters in Syria. The entire proceeds of the concert will be donated to the Syrian Armenian Relief Fund.
Tickets for the event are $75 and $35. Seating is limited and early reservation is strongly recommended by e-mailing SARF.Boston@gmail.com. Tickets can also be purchased online by visiting www.ItsMySeat.com.
The Syrian Armenian Relief Fund is a national initiative that aims to provide immediate assistance to Syrian-Armenians. According to the United Nations, more than 4 million people inside Syria are in desperate need of aid. Some 2.5 million have been displaced by the civil war but remain in Syria, while 70,000 have lost their lives. About 850,000 are believed to have fled the country, including an estimated 15,000 Armenians. Armenian communities and businesses there have been severely affected. Churches and more than 150 private residences have experienced either direct or indirect damage during the fighting.