To: Parish Priests, Parish Council Chairs, Choir Directors, Choir Chairs, Organists
From: Deacon Gregory Krikorian, AACCA Central Council Chair
Date: July 26, 2004
Subject: An Update: Junior Choir Leadership Development Program
The Junior Choir Leadership Development Program (JCLDP) of the AACCA will take place August 4-8, 2004 at the newly acquired Ararat Center in Greenville, NY. The objective of the AACCA in implementing a JCLDP is to develop future choir leaders now.
The list of 12 young people, the Class of 2004, that will participate in this program this year consists of Erika Belezarian (age 14, St. Mark Armenian Church, Springfield, MA), Alyne Corrigan (14, St. Stepanos Armenian Church, Elberon, NJ), Gregory Dalakian (17, St. Mary Armenian Church, Livingston, NJ), Tamar Derderian (19, Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church, Wynnewood, PA), Elise Durgarian (17, Armenian Church of Holy Translators, Framingham, MA), Harry Lang (14, Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Cambridge, MA), Sarah Malconian (17, Holy Trinity Armenian Church, Cambridge, MA), Tamara Martirossian (17, St. Sahag and Mesrob Armenian Church, Providence, RI), Ani Nalbandian (16, Armenian Church of the Holy Ascension, Trumbull, CT), Katherine Norris (16, St. James Armenian Church, Richmond, VA), Dziadzan Sahagian (15, St. James Armenian Church, Watertown, MA), and Taline Terjanian (14, St. Stepanos Armenian Church, Elberon, NJ). All these individuals currently serve within their church through one or more of the following church organizations: The choir, Sunday School, Armenian School, or the ACYOA. The deadline for the Class of 2004 applications was April 14, 2004. Additional applications will be considered for the Class of 2005.
All candidates were nominated by their parish priests and their parish councils. The Central Council thanks the priests and parish councils for supporting the AACCA in its goal of preparing for the future. The graduating class of 2004, upon returning to their parishes, will assume the title of Assistant Choir Director. As Assistant Choir Directors, they will assist in the celebration of Divine Liturgy on a weekly basis. In addition, they will conduct small portions of the Divine Liturgy once a month.
As for the instructors for this program, the faculty of 2004 JCLDP is composed of practicing choir directors and parish priests from across the Diocese. The faculty for 2004 for this program and the subjects in which they will provide instruction consists of the Very Rev. Fr. Vahan Hovhanessian (pastor, Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs, Bayside, NY) -- instruction for the role of deacon; the Very Rev. Mamigon Kiledjian (pastor, St. Stepanos Armenian Church, Elberon, NJ) -- instructor in the role of the organ in Armenian sacred music; Maestro Khoren Mekanejian, choir director, St. Vartan Cathedral, New York, NY) -- how to conduct an Armenian church choir; Deacon Rubik Mailian (choir director, St. John's Armenian Church of Greater Detroit, MI) -- taking vocal considerations -- for sopranos, altos, tenors and bass -- when conducting a choir; Dr. Socrates Boyajian (choir director, St. Mary Armenian Church, Washington, DC) -- a survey of Western music, Armenian sacred music, music theory, ear training, and the Armenian Church calendar. Each topic will consist of a 90-minute presentation -- a 60-minute presentation/lecture, followed by a 30-minute question-and-answer session.