Association of Armenian Church Choirs of America (AACCA)

To: Parish Priests, Choir Chairs, Choir Directors, Organists

From: Deacon Gregory Krikorian, AACCA Central Council Chair

Date: April 7, 2003

Subject: Scholarships Offered in 2003 by the AACCA

Once again, the Central Council of the Association of Armenian Church Choirs of America is pleased to announce its scholarship programs:

Two $100 scholarships for the St Nersess Summer Conferences.
One $100 scholarship for the St Vartan Camp. This is a Diocese program.
One $100 scholarship for Hye Camp. This, too, is a Diocese program.
One $500 scholarship for musical study made possible by the Margaret E. Hagopian Scholarship Fund.

The St Nersess Seminary Summer Conferences will have six programs in the Eastern Diocese in 2003:

This summer, St Nersess Armenian Seminary will offer six conferences: Deacons' Training, 1 Junior High School Conference, 3 High School Conferences and a Post High School (College) Conference.

The St Nersess Summer Conferences offer American Armenian youth an opportunity to learn about their Armenian faith, culture and history in a unique environment. Each conference will offer daily worship, Bible study, Armenian language instructions, lectures and discussions led by clergy and lay leaders of our Church. In addition, sports, excursions and social activities are also planned. This well-rounded religious, cultural and social experience creates the perfect opportunity for young people to make lasting friendships and continue the tradition that has made St Nersess Seminary's Summer Conferences so successful for close to 40 years. The Rev. Fr Stepanos Doudoukjian, pastor of St Peter Armenian Church of Watervliet, NY, is the director of the Summer Conferences.

The Deacons' Training and Liturgical Music Program is especially for young men and women who would like to participate more actively and meaningfully in the worhsip of the Armenian Church. Practical workshops and interactive classes teach the participants the deacons' parts of the liturgy and take the mystery out of the rituals, the music, the symbols and the chants. Students who complete the program return to their home churches with polished liturgical skills, a more satisfying sense of participation in the church's worship, and many new friends. This summer's program will include an additional series of workshops to teach interested participants the hymns of the Gomidas Divine Liturgy. More experienced deacons will learn how to assist the priest during the Funeral Services of the Armenian Church. Daily study of the Bible and Litrugy, morning and evening worship, Armenian language instruction and recreational and social activities make the experience rewarding and fun. The program is open to men and women at least 15 years old. The Very Rev. Fr Daniel Findikyan, Dean of St Nersess Seminary, is the director of the Deacons' Training and Litrugical Music Program.

The Diocese of the Armenian Church (Easter) supports two summer camps for Armenian youth - Hye Camp in Illinois, and St Vartan Camp in Connecticut. These camps allow youth to spend time and with other Armenian youth from throughout the Diocese. Devotion to their faith, and a chance to laugh and play in a wholesome atmosphere and are incluced in the programs. The Hye Camp program runs for one week; the St Vartan Camp programs, for two weeks.

The St. Vartan Camp is at Marvelwood School, Kent, CT. There are two sessions: Session A (June 29 - July 12); and Session B (July 13 - July 26) . For more information, please contact Yn. Arpi Kouzouian, Department of Youth Ministry, at (617)876-2700.

Hye Camp has one session, July 27 - August 2. Deacon Aren Jebejian, Deacon-in-Charge of St Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church in Chicago, IL, is this year's director.

The Margaret E. Hagopian Scholarship Fund has been earmarked for choir singers and altar servers actively participating in their choirs for a minimum of one year, and who will be enrolling in courses such as Music History, Music Appreciation, Music Theory, Composition or Vocal Instruction. It is also offered to organists for development skills and to choir directors for instruction and improvement in conducting their choirs. Individuals parishes may also apply for this scholarship to be used toward programs for the improvement of their own local choirs.

Please publicize these scholarship programs among your choir members and Sunday School students, ACYOA and deacons. Application forms must be received, along with a letter of recommendation from their Parish Priest, or, in the absence of a Priest, from the Parish Council Chair.

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
ST NERSESS ARMENIAN SEMINARY
2003 SUMMER CONFERENCES

- Deacons' Training and Liturgical Music (June 22 - July 1)
- High School A (July 3 - 11)
- High School B (July 15 - 23)
- High School C (July 26 - August 3)
- Junior High School (August 6 - 10)
- Post High School (August 13 - 20)

Please circle one of the above choices.

Name: ___________________________ Telephone ___________________________

Address: ___________________________

City: ___________________________ State: ________ ZIP __________

Parish Name: _________________________

Address: ____________________________

City: ___________________________ State: ________ ZIP __________

Please circle one of the categories listed below.

I server my church choir as a (an):
- Choir Member
- Altar Server
- Organist
- Other (specify) _______________

Indicate Grade you are entering in Fall 2003 __________

Have you previously attended a St Nersess Summer Conference? ___ Yes ___ No

If yes, please list them. ___________________________________________

Will ou be receiving other scholarship funding? ___ Yes ___ No

If yes, please explain. _____________________________________________

Please describe why you feel you are a worthy candidate to receive scholarship funding.

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

This application must be accompanied by a recommendation from your Parish Priest, or, in the absence of a Parish Priest, from the Deacon-in-Charge or Chair of the Parish Council.

Deadline for application is June 7, 2003.

Mail application to:

David Livingstone
7706 Yolanda Road
Richmond, VA 23229-4245

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
MARGARET E. HAGOPIAN MEMORIAL FUND
FOR MUSICAL TRAINING

Name: ___________________________ Telephone ___________________________

Address: ___________________________

City: ___________________________ State: ________ ZIP __________

Parish Name: _________________________

Address: ____________________________

City: ___________________________ State: ________ ZIP __________

* Please circle one of the categories listed below.
I server my church choir as a (an):
- Choir Member
- Altar Server
- Organist
- Other (specify) _______________

Please fill in the course title, date the semester begins and the name and city/state of the institution at which the course is being taken.

Course Title: __________________________ Date Semester Begins: ___________________

School Name / Instructor _________________________