KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

Ruben Mirzakhanyan, Rector of Armenian State Pedagogical University and President of the TCA (Tekeyan Cultural Association) Armenia, handed over awards to the winners in four categories during the annual Vahan Tekeyan Awards Ceremony.

For two decades, the TCA Armenia has been giving awards to nominees in Literature, Music, Arts and other fields.

This year, the Museum of Literature and Art named after Yeghishe Charents won the TCA award for literature for the book “Answer after One Hundred Year.” Constantine Orbelian, Honored Artist of Russia and the conductor of the symphonic orchestra of A. Spendiaryan Opera and Ballet National Academic Theatre, received the TCA award for music. Young painter Mikael Harutyunyan won the TCA art award for his “Armenia” painting and Grigor Khachatryan, a director and actor at Yerevan Drama Theatre after Hrachya Ghaplanyan, won the award in the “Theatrical Art” category for his performance “Uninvited Anna.”

Ruben Mirzakhanyan congratulated the winners and said that the works of the nominees were judged by a professional group and corresponding committees. He expressed hope that the awards will mark new achievements and success in the field of culture.

On behalf of the Armenian Government, Deputy Prime Minister Vache Gabrielyan congratulated the winners and assured everyone that ‘the decades-old work and experience of the Tekeyan Cultural Association greatly contributes to the activation of social and spiritual life in Armenia.’

“Assessing gifted young people along with prominent figures will become a milestone for their future career. The Government appreciates the social and cultural activities of the TCA," Mr Gabrielyan stressed. In the name of the executive body, the official wished the TCA new achievements for the sake of art, culture and science.

Yervand Azatian, Chairman of the TCA chapter in the United States and Canada, considered annual awards ceremony to be an important event in the country’s literary and cultural life.

Giving the prize to Karo Vardanyan, Director of the Museum of Literature and Art named after Yeghishe Charents, Mr Azatian said that the book is of great historical value and shows the Armenian Genocide from inside: in their letters, intellectuals left messages to future generations.
Karo Vardanyan expressed his gratitude for the prize and noted that the book was created thanks to the tremendous efforts and work of 20 people. “The prize is a blessing by Tekeyan. The creators of the book were his spiritual brothers who continue the work of martyrs 100 years later,” he said.

Constantine Orbelian said the prize was unexpected and pleasant for him. The maestro promised to create new performances, adding that Armenia has always had talented people.

“It is culture that will keep the nation, language and religion forever,” Armen Elbakyan, Professor at Armenian State Pedagogical University and Honored Worker of Art of Armenia, said as he presented the award in the “Theatrical Art” category to Grigor Khachatryan, a director at Yerevan Drama Theatre after Hrachya Ghaplanyan.

Armen Elbakyan said the performance was interpreted by the director in a unique way. With its aesthetic thinking it can be compared with the period of [great writer] Dostoevsky. The work has a definite addressee – today’s man.

Grigor Khachatryan accepted the prize with gratitude, noting that it was the first award of the performance: “Uninvited Anna” was waiting for its day to come.

Mikael Harutyunyan, the next winner of the annual awards ceremony, is only 18. He is the first young nominee to win a TCA award in the history of the Association. As Prof. Hravard Hakobyan, Doctor of Arts and Chair of the TCA art awards committee, said when she saw his paintings she could not believe that they had been created by a young author. It is difficult to have such talent at this age, she stressed.

“Painting has its complicated nuances which require experience and age. Mikael has a God-given talent,” she said adding that the award was an important step to the world of art.

“I am proud of the activity of the Tekeyan Cultural Association,” the young painter said adding that it was difficult for him to speak after the speeches of great figures. He said the prize was binding and promised to justify all expectations.

The awards ceremony was enlivened by the musical performances of Armenian TV and Radio Variety Orchestra, under the leadership of Yervand Yerznkyan.