Aaccwd Launches The Sinanian Youth Choir Program

From one generation to another, our Armenian Apostolic Church sacred music serves as the cornerstone of not only our spiritual replenishment, but the inspiring and every-lasting woven notes of history intertwined with the love for our Almighty. That is why the AACCWD Chairman is proud to announce on behalf of the Association of Armenian Church Choirs the Sinanian Youth Choir Program.

The Sinanian Youth Choir Program (SYCP) was established and named in honor of our first AACCWD Chairman, Dr. Ronald Sinanian. Dr. Sinanian, a DDS in trade, is also a professional organist who has served as Dean of the American Guild of Organists and resident organist at Saint Peter Armenian Apostolic Church in Van Nuys, CA. His early days were accompanied with apprenticeship under his late-mother Ms. Alice Sinanian who also served her church not only with music, but with love for the Almighty and fellow church choir members. Dr. Sinanian’s ground breaking efforts led to the establishment of the AACCWD and helped shape our organization into what we have become today.

The Sinanian Youth Choir Program will serve as the educational platform to educate, train, and recruit every new generation of young church-goers to the melodies and hymns of our sacred music. These junior choir members (aged 8-18) will have access to live & in-person educators, referential digital resources, and recurring workshops throughout the Western Diocese. As these individuals grow older, they will be immersed within the traditional church choir at their home parishes ensuring that our succession efforts are not only fruitful, but home to a new generation of church choir members, friends, and families.

We look forward to seeing the youth of the Western Diocese participate in our Sinanian Youth Choir Program.

The first regional workshops of the Sinanian Youth Choir Program are as follows:

September 15, 2018 • 10AM-12PM

Saint Peter Armenian Apostolic Church (Van Nuys, CA)

September 29, 2018 • 10AM-12PM

Saint Leon Armenian Apostolic Church (Burbank, CA)

October 27, 2018 • 10AM-12PM

Saint James Armenian Apostolic Church (Los Angeles, CA)

November 3, 2018 • 10AM-12PM

Fresno, California - TBD

Saturday School Workshop

On Saturday, August 11, 2018 Chairman Derderian gave a lecture on Armenian Sacred Music Fundamentals to a group of over 50 Saturday School Educators. His lecture focused on the core origins of the liturgy, history of our composition works, and the true liturgical expressions and phrasings of scripture in music.

HyeCamp 2018:

AACCWD Ambassadors delivered a new curriculum designed by Derderian to the students of HyeCamp. Students were taught new variable compositions of the Divine Liturgy as well as folk and secular music. We always enjoy teaching our HyeCampers as our mission is to spread music education within all venues in our Diocese!

AACCWD Debuts 2018-2018 Sunday School/CEC Music Education Curriculum

Students this year will learn six new sharagans that include works by Yekmalian, Komitas, & Sarxian. They will also be taught three new variable feast day hymns. Visit our AACCWD Library weekly to view and participate in our new e-delivery instructional videos!

Hymns of the Sunrise Service

Hymns of the Sunrise Service enters the final design and proof stage before publication! This new arrangement of the sunrise service will be published in 2019 along with our newly arranged publication of the Divine Liturgy. Click Here to view a sample hymn from this publication.

All composed works will have a corresponding vocal, accompaniment, and choral MIDI file.

Fall 2018 Registration is now open! Classes begin September 5, 2018

We invite students (16+ yrs. old), community members, parish members, and volunteers to partake in our free online education program. Each class will be taught via a remote instructor who will lecture through written notes, videos, and live web sessions. Our efforts remain committed to enhancing education not only within our Diocese but across our Armenian Apostolic Church.

Fall 2018 Class Offerings:

Armenian Sacred Music Fundamentals 101

Music Theory & Harmony 101

CLICK HERE for more info!

As always, we need your help no matter how large or small to help keep our programs alive. Every dollar you donate goes directly to our Music Education efforts. Please make a contribution today by clicking here.