A BRIEF HISTORY OF NAREK BELL CHOIR OF ST. MARY
We
are proud to state that the Bell Choir of St. Mary is the first and the
only such instrumental group in the Armenian Church anywhere. The Bell Choir
started under the auspices of St. Mary Armenian Church, Washington, DC,
initiated and directed by the Artistic Director Maestro Leon Khoja-Eynatyan
and with the blessings of the pastor, Rev. Fr. Vertanes Kalayjian.
In 2004, the Bell Choir issued its first CD, “Gloria Excelsis: Armenian
Spiritual Music”
with the youth choir of Sts. Sahag & Mesrob
Armenian Church in Providence, RI, Maestro Konstantin Petrossian, Artistic
Director. The CD includes Armenian spiritual and sacred music from the
Divine Liturgy, Easter and Christmas services, arranged for Bell Choir
performances for the first time in history.
For the unprecedented success during this relatively short time (five years),
the Bell Choir has earned two significant recognitions/awards:
a. The “Komitas” award from the Church Choir Association of
the Easter Diocese of the Armenian Church in the US;
b. “The Best Album of Spiritual Music Award of 2005” at the
Annual Awards Competition, LA, USA.
The
Bell Choir bears the name of St. Gregory of Narek, a 10th century church
father, poet, theologian and a mystic.
The CD’s are on sale after the concert. The proceeds and gifts will help to finance the establishment of a Bell Choir of Youth in Yerevan, Armenia.