New CD ‘We Sing Armenian Church Songs’ Presented at Sisters Academy

RADNOR, Pa.—On Jan. 28, students of the Armenian Sisters Academy learned about their Armenian faith and several hymns of the Divine Liturgy during an engaging and lively presentation led by Nvair Kadian Beylerian and Andrea Carden, creators of the album, “We Sing Armenian Church Songs (Badarak Hymns for Children).”

Nvair Kadian Beylerian and Andrea Carden interacting with students of the Armenian Sisters Academy during a presentation about Armenian Church hymns from their newest album, ‘We Sing Armenian Church Songs (Badarak Hymns for Children)’

“As a teacher, I reap the benefits of being rewarded everyday as I interact with students, but I have to say that I truly felt the Holy Spirit around me as we shared the beauty of our church songs,” said Carden, who serves as the education consultant on the album. “The scripted information fell away and allowed us to share our original intention of sharing the meanings of our church songs so we can pray and praise with intent.”

The presentation consisted of a morning and afternoon session, divided by grade level, in which Beylerian and Carden carefully explained each of the hymns and sang them out loud to the students. The energy in the room was palpable, as the youngsters joined in the sing along.

“Cultural preservation is the cornerstone of our mission at the Armenian Sisters Academy,” said Lorig Baronian, chairlady of the school’s Parent Teacher Association. “While a majority of our students attend Armenian church and are used to hearing the ‘Badarak’ on a regular basis, this presentation helped bridge the gap between singing words and understanding their meaning.”

Baronian highlighted the light and fun interaction among Beylerian, Carden, and the students, and how the presentation brought the Badarak to life. She noted that as presenters, they were able to quickly connect with the students and make them feel comfortable while they learned the sharagans (hymns) in both Armenian and English.

“All of the students were equally passionate about their response to this presentation,” said Baronian. “In addition, the presentation was captivating for our faculty, who were also eagerly listening and singing along.”

The “We Sing Armenian Church Songs” album contains seven Armenian hymns recorded in both English and Armenian by the HYEfamily Children’s Chorus, with guest appearances by award-winning artist Nvair and oud master Ara Dinkjian.

“I was really impressed by their enthusiasm and passion in keeping our Armenian religious hymns and sharagans alive,” said Sister Emma Moussayan, principal of Armenian Sisters Academy, noting that Beylerian and Carden were well prepared and immediately captured the students’ attention. “I really appreciated the fact that they have that personal touch to turn the students’ attention and focus on God through our sacred songs.”

“Minutes into the presentation, the room was filled with the sound of children belting out hymns,” added Baronian. “It was so heartwarming, it brought me to tears.”

Beylerian and Carden are scheduled to make interactive educational presentations to Sunday Schools and Armenian communities across the country throughout 2015. For upcoming appearances or to purchase a CD, visit the HYEfamily website at www.hyefamily.com. The album can also be purchased through www.amazon.com or www.cdbaby.com, and can be downloaded on iTunes.

About Nvair Beylerian

Nvair Kadian Beylerian holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in education. She is a third-generation Armenian American who has had the privilege of growing up within a culturally rich, Armenian-speaking household rooted in the active and energetic diasporan community of the New York region. She has been on stage performing Armenian song and dance with her family since childhood, and continues in that vein, performing for children and their families across the country, connecting them to their roots with joy and laughter.

Since 2001, Beylerian has released three children’s CDs in Armenian (“2Mayrer,” “Donadzar,” and “Ari Mer Doon”). She performs interactive bi-lingual concerts for Armenian and non-Armenian children and their families in the U.S. and Canada. Each CD has been nominated for the Annual Armenian Music Awards in the category of Best Children’s Album in their respective years. “Donadzar” was awarded a Big Apple Music Award in 2003, in the Best Children’s Album category.

For more information and updates, visit www.hyefamily.com.