To: Parish Priests, Parish Council Chairpersons, Choir Chairpersons, Choir Leaders, Organists
From: Dr Socrates Boyajian, Chair, Central Council
Date: September 20, 1999
Subject: 1999 Choir Assembly
I want to share the exciting news of our next Choir Assembly with you and what you can expect when you get there. As you may remember, we concluded our last Choir Assembly gathering in Cambridge, MA, not knowing if there would even be a Choir Assembly in 1999. As the newly elected Chairman of the Central Council coming out of that Choir Assembly, I knew that this was going to be a challenging year.
But shortly after the Choir Assembly, the Central Council put out feelers to several parishes on whether they would be in a position to host the Choir Assembly in 1999. And in due time, the parish of Richmond, Virginia offered to host the Choir Assembly in 1999. Then, through the course of this year, Arpie Kouzouian - Vice Chair of the Central Council - has worked, and continues to work closely with David Livingstone, the Assembly Committee Chairman of the St James Armenian Church of the Richmond, VA parish, in planning for the Choir Assembly. We are currently putting the final touches on the schedule of activities of the Choir Assembly.
On behalf of the Central Council, I would like to thank the Assembly Committee of Richmond for all their efforts. We also thank Fr Nareg Berberian for his encouragement and support of hosting the Choir Assembly in Richmond, VA in 1999.
As the Chair of the Central Council, I will do my part, as will all of the members of the Central Council, in presenting a report of activities in 1999 on behalf of the Choir Association - and much has taken place. Our main focus for the entire year has been to play a supportive role for the Jerusalem 2000 Pilgrimage. We will have hosted four workshops at the Diocese by the time of the Choir Assembly, on the music of the Jerusalem 2000 Pilgrimage. The workshops at the Choir Assembly will also concentrate on the same. Playing this supportive role for this large initiative of the Diocese has been a good experience for all involved - in this once in a life time event.
You will be receiving additional Choir Assembly related information shortly from both the Central Council and the Choir Assembly Host Committee. Please give the materials due attention - and most of all and most importantly - follow up with your personal participation in the Choir Assembly, if at all possible.
I know that many people are involved in many activities, and competing priorities come into play. But I must say as the Chairman of the Central Council of the Choir Association - we need you. We continue to hold workshops, publish music books, hold Choir Assemblies, put out information over the Internet - and we will continue to do so. We do these things to meet your needs - based on our perception of what needs to be done. But as always, clear communication on needs and refinement of needs are continuing efforts for all involved.