The annual Mother’s Day Luncheon hosted by the Prelacy Ladies’ Guild took place on May 2 at the historic and beautiful Palace in New York City. Lucy Ishkanian was honored as Woman of the Year by Archbishop Oshagan, the prelate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America, who then made a second announcement and surprise presentation of the Prelacy’s Queen Zabel Award to Ishkanian. The Queen Zabel Award and the Eagle of the Prelacy are the highest awards given by the Eastern Prelacy.
In introducing Ishkanian to the attendees, the afternoon’s MC, Iris Papazian, described her as an internationally recognized artist who continues to give back to the community through her support of the education and careers of young artists. Papazian told the gathering, “As you know, each year an individual is honored during this event. This year we are honoring someone whose name is very familiar to all. Lucy Ishkanian is an internationally recognized artist, but she is first and foremost very dear to the Armenian American community. The critical acclaim she has received could easily fill a large volume. As a young and promising pianist, Lucy caught the attention of famed Armenian composer Aram Khatchaturian who became a mentor to her. Khatchaturian described Lucy as a gifted artist, endowed with brilliant technical virtuosity combined with deep musical sensitivity.”
Ishkanian gave her first recital at the age of seven, two years after becoming the youngest student ever accepted to the Juilliard Preparatory Division. She continued her education in the college division of Juilliard, graduating with both a bachelor of science and master of science. She went on to complete requirements for a Ph.D. degree at Columbia University.
Incidentally, Papazian continued, “ever since that first recital at age seven she has included at least one Armenian selection in every one of her performances, thus introducing Armenian composers to the concert stage. She has performed throughout the world, receiving the enthusiastic critical acclaim of musicians, critics, and music lovers for her brilliant technique and musical sensitivity. Lucy’s artistic talents go beyond her extraordinary musical talent. She also writes both prose and poetry, she paints, she teaches, and she lectures… I could go on for a long time talking about Lucy’s career. The list is long, her achievements monumental, her accomplishments truly significant. But, what I want to focus on today is her association with young, talented Armenian musicians, who she has taken under her wings as a mentor and surrogate parent.”
Ishkanian has served as a longtime member of the Prelacy’s Musical Armenia Committee, which showcases the talents of young Armenian musicians. In 1991, during her concert tour in Armenia she established a scholarship at the Gomidas Conservatory for talented and deserving piano students in Armenia and Karabagh. She helped form a unique friendship program between the Juilliard School in New York and the Gomidas Conservatory in Yerevan. And in 1992, she established the Armenian Scholarship Fund at Juilliard, which assists exceptionally talented students from the Gomidas Conservatory who have been accepted at Juilliard.
In 1997, her Jubilee Concert at Avery Fisher Hall marking the 25th anniversary of her New York debut was a benefit for the Armenian Scholarship Fund. For nearly 20 years, Ishkanian has been very involved with the Armenian students who have come to Juilliard to further their musical studies through the scholarship fund. She has been both a mentor and parent to these students who are far away from home.
Stephen Clapp, the dean of the Juilliard School, wrote her the following some years ago: “With admiration for your tireless work to support young Armenian musicians, I write to send best wishes for your benefit concert on April 27th at Avery Fisher Hall. Knowing that proceeds from the event will be directed to the Armenian Scholarship Fund at the Juilliard School, I write also to extend deep gratitude for your advocacy and generosity. Indeed, these talented Armenian students would not be able to attend without your efforts on their behalf. For those you have helped and for all those who will benefit in the future from the Armenian Scholarship Fund, I extend profound thanks.”
“Lucy Ishkanian has achieved success with poise, grace, and humility. She has been and continues to be a good and generous influence, an inspiration, and a source of joy and comfort. How fortunate we are to have her as our friend,” Papazian concluded.
Queen Zabel was the daughter of Levon the Great. Upon the death of her father, she was designated heir to the throne of Cilician Armenia. In spite of many trials and tribulations, Zabel successfully governed the country together with her husband Hetoum. She was ahead of her time especially with her attention to social and cultural programs. Her primary concern was the wellbeing of her subjects. She developed many programs that directly benefited the people. In our modern day, Lucy Ishkanian has shown the same attributes of Queen Zabel. She has been intimately concerned about the advancement of Armenian culture and has found a myriad of ways of encouraging and supporting young artists, Archbishop Oshagan noted.
A musical interlude was presented by Juilliard graduates and students Cecee Pautikian, violin; Alex Sakarellos, violin; and Alexander Gurevich, viola.
The members of the Prelacy Ladies Guild are Seda Andrikian, Sima Artinoff, Marion Boudakian, Linda Chirinian, Amy Gostanian, Lilian Hairabedian, Gemma Melik Vartanian, Lilian Merdinian, Diana Minassian, Seta Nalbandian, Annie Pampanini, Anna Piliguian, Lucille Sahagian, Anna Semerdjian, Silvia Setrakian, Ovsanna Tatarian, Rita Tatevossian, Nayda Voskerijian, and Silva Zadourian.
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