United with Artsakh: An All-Boston Concert to Benefit Armenians of Artsakh

Fri., April 29, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.
Hovnanian Hall, Armenian Cultural and Educational Center
47 Nichols Avenue, Watertown, Mass.

BOSTON, Mass.—Following the recent large-scale act of aggression by the Azeri regime against the citizens of the Nagorno-Karabagh Republic (NKR/Artsakh), the Armenian Armed Forces demonstrated their determination and resolve in defending their ancestral homeland. As a result, the enemy suffered hundreds of casualties and approximately $170 million of loss in military hardware.

One-hundred percent of the funds collected through this benefit concert will go directly to the NKR Ministry of Finance’s bank account to support our fellow Armenians in need. (Photo: Araz Boghossian)

We all are too familiar with the atrocities committed by Azeri troops on children and the elderly, a pattern that has continued since the Sumgait and Baku pogroms that were carried out during the fall of the Soviet Union. Unfortunately, the defense of our homeland did not come cheaply. We lost a number of valiant soldiers—our modern-day Davids of Sassoun and Vahakns—and peaceful, unarmed civilians to Aliyev’s well-stocked war machine.

While far away from the front lines, we, the Armenians of Boston, along with other Armenians worldwide, stand united with our brothers and sisters in Artsakh and Armenia. However, we can and should do more. There is an urgent need for financial support to address the various medical and humanitarian needs there. The NKR Ministry of Finance has set up special bank accounts to solicit donations from across the world. We would like to do our part by contributing to this fund.

To that end, we are organizing an all-Boston concert on Fri., April 29, featuring a number of artists and musicians from our community. All parties have donated their time and services, and the Armenian Cultural and Educational Center (ACEC) has graciously provided the Hovnanian Hall free of charge for this event.

The list of performers is growing, as is the list of the event sponsors. As of this writing, the event is co-sponsored by the ACEC, ARF “Sardarabad” Gomideh, Armenian Relief Society (ARS) “Leola Sassouni” and “Shushi” Chapters, the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) Greater Boston “Nejdeh” Chapter, Hamazkayin-Boston, Boston Homenetmen, St. Stephen’s Armenian Apostolic Church and School, and the Tekeyan Cultural Association.

The performers list includes Jasmine Atabekyan, the Arev Ensemble, the John Berberian Ensemble, Sevag Khatchadourian, Maroukhian Trio, Gegham Margarian, Meghri Choir, Shahan Nercessian, Markos Shahbazyan, and the Zangakner Children’s Choir.

One-hundred percent of the funds collected through this benefit concert will go directly to the NKR Ministry of Finance’s bank account to support our fellow Armenians in need. Please do your best to attend and show your support. If you cannot attend, please consider a donation. Better yet, please attend the show and make a donation. We will have letters on hand for the families of our fallen heroes to be signed by all in attendance. We will deliver these letters to the families to demonstrate our solidarity with them.

The event begins at 7:30 p.m. at the ACEC, 47 Nichols Ave. in Watertown. To purchase tickets or to make a donation, visit www.itsmyseat.com/artsakh/ or call Tatul Badalian at (617) 331-0426.