News

Diana Gasparyan Staff Writer The Concert Hall at Fresno State was graced by the performance of master cellist Narek Hakhnazaryan on Sunday, January 29. His skill and artistry left the audience in admiration as he played beautiful pieces by composers Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, and Harutyunyan. Since winning the Gold Medal in Cello at the 2011 Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow, Hakhnazaryan ...

Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian, Prof. Sergio La Porta, and the Armenian Studies Program would like to thank the donors, authors, and publishers for the following books, periodicals, videos, and archival gifts, either offered personally, or to the Program.   Donna and Hagop Didizian, London, England, for a copy of Khatchkar, by Hrair Hawk Khatcherian, in English, French and Armenian, 515pp. ...

Michael Rettig Editor Reconstructing historic life in the Ottoman Empire has been difficult for the Armenian people because of the cataclysmic rupture the Genocide engendered between the Armenians and their past. Birth records were destroyed, churches burned, and populations eradicated. This has made it increasingly important for Armenians to utilize the remaining fragments of their past to piece together their ...

Michael Rettig Editor The Ottoman Empire of the 20th century was a complex region; home to a variety of ethnic and religious groups. However, the multifaceted demography of the Empire did not warrant the terminology imposed upon it by European powers. On Friday, February 3, Dr. Laura Robson (Portland State University) delivered a timely presentation on “War, Peace, and the ...

Elina Karapetyan Staff Writer The Armenian people have traveled a long and difficult path throughout history. They have persisted as a people in spite of devastating circumstances and even Genocide. This nationality was founded upon resilience, strength, courage, loyalty and honor. These noble characteristics of the Armenian people are inevitably represented in art. On Tuesday, February 7, Dr. Levon Chookaszian, ...

Staff Report Armenian Studies Program Coordinator Prof. Barlow Der Mugrdechian announced that the Bertha and John Garabedian Foundation has made a generous donation of $5,000 to the Armenian Studies Program for 2016. This brings the total donations from the Foundation to the Armenian Studies Program to over $100,000. The grant will be used for a variety of activities, including outreach ...

Kara Statler Staff Writer Dr. Richard Hovannisian, Professor Emeritus of Armenian and Near Eastern at UCLA, was invited by the Armenian Studies Program at Fresno State to give a lecture entitled, “Armenian Communities of the Northeastern Mediterranean: Musa Dagh-Dört-Yol and Kessab,” on Friday, January 27 at the University Business Center at Fresno State. A standing room only audience enjoyed the ...

Diana Gasparyan Staff Writer The 15th Annual Armenian Film Festival, a popular event organized by the Armenian Studies Program and Armenian Students Organization, was held this year on Friday, February 17. The Festival featured three films created by a new generation of young Armenian directors, writers, and producers. The Festival helps to cultivate an awareness of Armenian culture among the ...

Staff Report On Saturday, January 14, 2017, Dr. Sergio La Porta served as the “Honorary Coach” for the Fresno State Bulldogs Men’s Basketball team against the Boise State Broncos. In an exciting game, the Bulldogs defeated the Broncos 89-80, completely dominating the first half of the match-up. The game was sponsored by the College of Arts and Humanities and Dr. ...

Staff Report   The middle of February was a busy time for Dr. Sergio La Porta who in one week spoke both at Pomona College and Sonoma State University. On Friday, February 17, Dr. La Porta participated in a Mediterranean Seminar entitled “Culture Wars” hosted by Dr. Kenneth Wolf of the Department of History at Pomona College. Dr. La Porta’s ...