The Feeling Begins
Although I haven't been blogging as often as I would like to, behind the scenes a lot is taking place in my "Armenian world". After the Iakovos Kolanian tour ended in the first week of November 2006, it was time to completely focus on our YerazArt Young Musicians from Armenia Tour Spring 2007. The concept is fairly simple. Our panel of Advisory Board Members in Armenia work with our Armenia Country Director in selecting 8 eligible students who will tour with us. From Boston, I am in constant contact with our Country Director whose office is in Yerevan. Yesterday, we made our final selection of talent and will announcing the winners shortly. Our U.S. tour is aimed at non-Armenian audiences in cities and venues that have not usually seen or heard music from Armenia. For example, we were able to get the City of Albuquerque, New Mexico to host our concert for April 29. We also have two shows scheduled in Santa Fe on April 27 and 28 at the College of Santa Fe. We have Austin, Texas also interested through the Armenian Community there. Those folks in Austin know how to present an Armenian show as I have worked with them in the past.
I thought it would be interesting to convey how we got these shows. I picked up the phone and called a non-profit organization called Albuquerque Arts and asked to be put in touch with an Armenian contact. The woman there said to try a lady who has been sick of late, but, is the matriarch of the community. I called the woman and on the other line was a very informative and lucid 89 year old who moved to New Mexico from Watertown, MA with her husband "after the war". Well, we are talking about World War 2. We chatted for an hour and I was utterly amazed at how in tune this person was. When I explained our mission of YerazArt and the fact that we wanted to bring the show to her city, within a day she emailed me (yes, email!) a short list of 7 Armenian Americans who would be willing to help out. Sure enough, they have helped out tremendously.
One of the Armenian Americans works for the Mayor's Office of Albuquerque and has secured a tremendous theater for us in the city at no cost to YerazArt. He pledged citywide support to get the word out about the show. Next, I called a piano rental company to inquire about getting a 9 foot Steinway Grand Piano, B Class and after hearing what the program would be decided to donate the rental for the evening. The next day I called the College of Santa Fe (about 55 miles from Albuquerque) and inquired if we could rent their recital hall and immediately after hearing what the show was about, invited our musicians to perform two concerts at the school hosted by them. They are interested in the fact that we will be bringing a duduk player, kanon player, and pure folk singer.
With only a handful of Armenian Americans not affiliated with any organization or group, we have been able to set up three shows with City and University backing in New Mexico. Otherwise, I am trying to work with Armenian organizations for other cities who are worried about losing a few hundred bucks on the show. When pressed, I ask if their mission is to profit, or to present music from Armenia from the countries youngest and brightest. Of course, the answer is always convoluted. To be fair, the smaller Armenian communities have showed great interest, little red tape, and a thirst for Armenian culture.
In other news, I am close to signing another Pomegranate artist. I met them at a classical guitar convention recently and was surprised they hadn't signed on with anyone. They have each recorded for classical music giant Naxos, but, liked what we did with the Iakovos Kolanian stuff. The ensemble is fairly well known and I am really happy to have them sign on with Pomegranate. It marks a new benchmark for our label. Check out their site and stay tuned for a recording in 2007 from SoloDuo. They are from Italy and would be the first non-Armenain artists signed to my record label. Click HERE for their website. In the meantime, hear what the Washington Post said about them several months ago. "Extraordinarily sensitive, with effortless command and an almost unbearable delicacy of touch, the duo's playing was nothing less than rapturous -- profound and unforgettable musicianship of the highest order."Stephen Brookes - The Washington Post, July 25, 2006
I thought it would be interesting to convey how we got these shows. I picked up the phone and called a non-profit organization called Albuquerque Arts and asked to be put in touch with an Armenian contact. The woman there said to try a lady who has been sick of late, but, is the matriarch of the community. I called the woman and on the other line was a very informative and lucid 89 year old who moved to New Mexico from Watertown, MA with her husband "after the war". Well, we are talking about World War 2. We chatted for an hour and I was utterly amazed at how in tune this person was. When I explained our mission of YerazArt and the fact that we wanted to bring the show to her city, within a day she emailed me (yes, email!) a short list of 7 Armenian Americans who would be willing to help out. Sure enough, they have helped out tremendously.
One of the Armenian Americans works for the Mayor's Office of Albuquerque and has secured a tremendous theater for us in the city at no cost to YerazArt. He pledged citywide support to get the word out about the show. Next, I called a piano rental company to inquire about getting a 9 foot Steinway Grand Piano, B Class and after hearing what the program would be decided to donate the rental for the evening. The next day I called the College of Santa Fe (about 55 miles from Albuquerque) and inquired if we could rent their recital hall and immediately after hearing what the show was about, invited our musicians to perform two concerts at the school hosted by them. They are interested in the fact that we will be bringing a duduk player, kanon player, and pure folk singer.
With only a handful of Armenian Americans not affiliated with any organization or group, we have been able to set up three shows with City and University backing in New Mexico. Otherwise, I am trying to work with Armenian organizations for other cities who are worried about losing a few hundred bucks on the show. When pressed, I ask if their mission is to profit, or to present music from Armenia from the countries youngest and brightest. Of course, the answer is always convoluted. To be fair, the smaller Armenian communities have showed great interest, little red tape, and a thirst for Armenian culture.
In other news, I am close to signing another Pomegranate artist. I met them at a classical guitar convention recently and was surprised they hadn't signed on with anyone. They have each recorded for classical music giant Naxos, but, liked what we did with the Iakovos Kolanian stuff. The ensemble is fairly well known and I am really happy to have them sign on with Pomegranate. It marks a new benchmark for our label. Check out their site and stay tuned for a recording in 2007 from SoloDuo. They are from Italy and would be the first non-Armenain artists signed to my record label. Click HERE for their website. In the meantime, hear what the Washington Post said about them several months ago. "Extraordinarily sensitive, with effortless command and an almost unbearable delicacy of touch, the duo's playing was nothing less than rapturous -- profound and unforgettable musicianship of the highest order."Stephen Brookes - The Washington Post, July 25, 2006
posted by Raffi at 5:49 PM
1 Comments:
Abreese! It was wonderful to read about your attempts to introduce non-Armenian areas to Armenian culture, we need more and more of that! Also very nice to hear how responsive to Armenians of New Mexico have been and it's nice that this will help them get back in touch with their roots. Please keep it up!
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