2004 Annual Report of the Department of Music Ministry

Guided by the five focus areas of the Diocese, as these relate to the obligations of the Department of Music Ministry, the following activities were implemented by the department in 2004:

Concerts, Performances, and Formal Gatherings

At St. Vartan Cathedral, New York, NY, the coordinator conducted the choir in the singing of the Divine Liturgy every Sundays of the year. In addition, he participated in all religious ceremonies that fell on weekdays, and put into effect any arrangements made by the cathedral dean, Fr. Mardiros Chevian.

For the Feast of Sts. Vartanantz and Armenian Martyrs Day, the coordinator organized and directed memorial concerts of the St. Vartan Cathedral Choir. He also conducted a concert on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the passing of Catholicos Vasken I, at the Diocesan Center (Dec. 5).

The coordinator participated in all meetings of the Choir Association Central Council, as well as the AACCA assembly. He also brought his musical expertise to the Junior Choir gathering at St. Gregory the Enlightener Church, White Plains, NY (Apr. 17).

Education and Outreach

• In 2004, the coordinator visited the communities of Dallas, TX (twice); Richmond, VA, for the ordination of Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan; Philadelphia, PA; Trumbull, CT; Watertown, MA: Houston, TX; Westchester, NY; Livingston, NJ (twice); Belleville, IL; Fresno, CA; Providence, RI; Chicago, IL (twice).
• The coordinator taught the celebrant’s part of the Divine Liturgy and auxiliary services to the newly-ordained Fr. Hovsep Karapetyan. He taught Dn. Levon Kirakosyan music the morning, evening, and auxiliary services. Throughout the year, on his free day, the coordinator instructed students at St. Nersess Seminary in music theory, notation, and liturgical music.
• The coordinator conducted rehearsals two evenings a month with altar servers and deacons of St. Leon Church (Fair Lawn, NJ).
• At the arrangement of the Primate, the coordinator helped arrange regional workshops for deacons, conductors, and organists. In August, the coordinator taught a conducting workshop for 12 junior choir leaders at the Ararat Center, organized by the Choir Association.
• The coordinator taught the Divine Liturgy and Armenian folk songs to youth choirs at Holy Ascension 10 members (Trumbull, CT—10 members); St. Sahag and St Mesrob (Wynnewood, PA—23 members); St. Gregory the Enlightener (White Plains, NY—35 members).
• The coordinator spent the entire month of July at St. Vartan Camp, teaching the Divine Liturgy and Armenian songs to 250 students. He spent a week at Midwest Regional Hye Camp, where he taught 100 students.
• The coordinator composed an anthem for the Diocese’s Khrimian Lyceum, and published music books for use at the Diocesan camps.

Personnel: Maestro Khoren Mekanejian is coordinator of the Department of Music Ministry.