ARMISS and the Christmas Concert

On Sunday, 4 January 2009, the Christmas concert of the Armenian Evangelical ARMISS choir was held in the First Armenian Evangelical Church.

ARMISS
The name of the Choir is the pen-name of the pastor, poet, compose and painter, the Rev. Armenag Missirian (1901-1977). In 1981, the Christian Endeavour Union (Քրիստոնէական Ջանից Միութիւնը) of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East established the Armenian Evangelical Armiss Choir together with its founding conductor Mr. Vatche Barsoumian.

In 1987, Rev. Nercess Balabanian reestablished the Armiss Choir. During the war years, and after extensive rehearsals, the group scheduled performances twice but was unable to give them. May 2001 signaled the group's rebirth when the Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches established the Armiss Cultural Committee. Then, under the leadership of Rev. Balabanian, the Choir gave a sacred music concert at the Assembly Hall of the American University of Beirut to commemorate the 1700th anniversary of Christian Armenia. Since then, the Armiss Choir has given a number of performances.

Rev. Nercess Balabanian's move to the U.S. urged the Committee to seek new conductors. Mr. Nabil Melki offered his expertise in 2007, and the Choir gave a Christmas concert. Today, the Armiss Cultural Committee is happy to have Mr. Garo Avessian as the choir's new conductor.

Members of the Armiss Cultural Committee
Mr. Hrayr Jebejian, Chairman
Mrs. Roubina Artinian, Vice-Chairman
Mr. Nercess Baghdoyan, Treasurer
Miss Rima Cholakian, Member



ARMISS CHOIR
Garo Avessian, Conductor
Mathilde-Sandra Cholakian, Accompanist

Soprano
Ardemis Abrilian
Shushan Artinian
Silva Chilingirian
Rita Daderian
Taline Elmajian
Arlette Hovsepian
Armig Kazezian
Salpy Kouzouian
Pauline Sagherian
Rosy Sailian
Aline Tahazian
Tenor
Raffi Akbasharian
Luther Artinian
Manoug Chilingirian
Raffi Chilingirian
Raffi Elmajian (Dr.)
Ara Khederian






Alto
Rima Cholakian
Maral Haidostian
Esther Kilaghbian
Palig Kilaghbian
Nectar Palazian
Bass
Shant Aynilian
Hagop Kelougian
Séro Kelougian
Anto Ovigian
Ara Torkomian