East Coast's oldest Armenian day school marks 45 years

by Lana Kazangian

Published: Friday February 17, 2012

Holy Martyrs' school students during anniversary celebration.

Oakland Gardens, N.Y. - The 45th anniversary of Holy Martyrs Armenian Day School (HMADS) was celebrated with music and champagne on January 28. About 300 attended the sold-out Saturday night event.

A musical concert featuring well-known artists from the local community as well as the HMADS Student Choir and alumni, took place at the Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs. Among the special guests were H.E Garen Nazarian, Mrs. Barbara Peters, Mr. & Mrs. Noubar Mahdessian, benefactors and representatives of organizations from NY-NJ area.

The event was graced by the presence of His Eminence Arch. Yeghishe Gizirian, former Primate of UK Armenians. Other guest clergies included Fr. Bedros Kadehjian, interim pastor of the Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs and Fr. Nareg Terterian, pastor of St. Sarkis Armenian Church of Douglaston, NY.

"Our school's anniversary is a community milestone," says Mrs. Zarminé Boghosian, the longtime principal of HMADS, whose name is practically synonymous with the school. "We are celebrating not only what HMADS has achieved through the years, but also the efforts of the parents, students, alumni, teachers, volunteers, and friends that have participated in its life for the past 45 years."

The concert featured International Prize-winning Pianist Tania Gabrielian, area vocalists Lyric Soprano Anoosh Barclay, Baritone Vagharshag Ohanyan, Mezzo Soprano Hasmik Meikhanedjian, and contemporary artist Hooshere. A true highlight was a culminating trio performance of "Non Ti scordar di me' by Ernesto de Curtis, sung by Barclay, Ohanyan and Meikhanedjian. Instrumental musicians featured were Violinist Diana Vasilyan -who performed a moving trio Gomidas's "Dsirani Dsar" with 2 HMADS young alumni violinists Zovinar Aghavian and Nicole Mark- and accompanist Janet Marcarian.

At the conclusion of the program the entire Audience HMADS Chior, Alumni and Guest performers joined in singing "Hayr Mer" led by Arch. Yeghishe Gizirian who gave a moving speech congratulating the HMADS Family.

"The concert was beautiful to listen to, but was also meaningful and reflective considering the occasion," said Mina Hovsepian, 45th Anniversary Committee Member, HMADS Friends Committee Member and past Chairperson of the HMADS -PTO. Mrs. Hovsepian's daughter Talar is a recent alumnus of the school, and participated in the concert as well. "So much hard work by the 45th anniversary committee was involved," she said "months of preparation leading up to the event, but it all paid off." Literally too-as the function was of course a benefit, it raised $18,000 in net profit for the school.

"The event was a true success," said Hovannes Malikyan, HMADS Board member and Friends Committee Chairperson. "It met all of our goals, and was an ideal way to commemorate this important achievement in the school's history."

The concert also reminded the community that a school like HMADS can't keep its doors open, serving the community year after year, without the sponsorship and support of the community. "The school needs each and every one of us," says HMADS Board Member Lolita Babikian, "to keep the wheels turning and making HMADS better, stronger and most importantly, of highest quality in education and discipline. No wonder that this school was ranked Number One in Queens Private schools based on their State tests!"

The event began and ended with a beautiful candlelight procession of 45 young HMADS alumni and students. The program included both Armenian and Western classical compositions, and was a true joy for all present.

Of course it didn't hurt that HMADS was not only 45 and fabulous, but that it probably has the most talented collection of parents -PTO- and teachers. Mezzo Soprano Hasmik Meikhanedjian, who gave a powerful performance of Verdi's Il Troubadore, has two children in the school, Ani and Levon, and finds time to serve on the PTO of the school, and consequently, was a driving force in spearheading the concert. Anoosh Barclay, is the parent of Shushan a current student, and Zovinar who just graduated. Both Meikhanedjian and Barclay consequently sing in the St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral Choir every Sunday, sounding heavenly there as well. Hooshere, a new parent of Hye Bardez toddler Araxi, is also an alumnus of the school. Anahid Boghossian and Nevart Z. Dadourian are regular music teachers of the school, Diana Vasilyan is a visiting violin teacher, and Janet Marcarian is the retired HMADS sixth grade teacher who accompanied all the artists of the program. Nevart Zeronian, a piano accompanist in the concert, has been the principal organist of the Armenian Church of the Holy Martyrs for the last 18 years.
A lavish reception with champagne, strawberries and various hors d'ouevres followed the concert in HMADS Kalustyan Hall. One of the highlights of the reception was the cutting of an original cake donated for the event by artistic NJ-based cake makers Keremo Cakes. The bakery's original culinary creation featured the school's Ararat mountain logo on a multi-tier cake surrounded by small individual cupcakes with the letters of the Armenian Alphabet. The clergy, past and current chairs of the School Board joined in cutting the cake as HMADS Students sang the school's song and Happy Birthday.

While HMADS' style is more humble, it could -if it wanted to- boast its 265+ students that have graduated, empowered with a competitive American education and supplemented by intense study of Armenian language, history and culture.

If 45 is the new 25, then HMADS is true to form, trying to stay ahead of the times-it has web presence at www.hmads.org and it is on Facebook to help it explore different ways of reaching out to the community and especially to the alumni and attract new students.