City of Glendale Honors Armenian Genocide Victims with Evening of Remembrance

On Monday, April 21, the historic Alex Theatre in Glendale, California, became a place of deep remembrance, unity, and pride. Hundreds gathered for the city’s 24th Annual Armenian Genocide Commemoration Event — a free public ceremony honoring the 1.5 million innocent lives lost during the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and celebrating the unbreakable spirit of the Armenian people.

This year's event filled the theater with local community members, city officials, international visitors, and proud descendants of genocide survivors. They came together not just to mourn, but to remember, reflect, and uplift the enduring Armenian identity through art, music, poetry, and dance.

The evening opened with Joel Martin’s “Jazzical Komitas”, a moving musical tribute that mixed jazz with the traditional melodies of Komitas Vartabed, the great Armenian composer and priest. Martin, a world-renowned pianist, played with heart and soul, reimagining Komitas’ sacred songs in a fresh and emotional way. His performance reminded everyone that while Armenians have faced great pain, their culture continues to inspire the world.

Next came the Haikian Chamber Choir, led by the talented Gayane Baghdasaryan, who has dedicated more than three decades to preserving Armenian musical heritage. Their voices echoed through the theater with strength and beauty, especially during their performance of fragments from the “Oratorio in Memory of Victims of the 1915 Armenian Genocide”, composed by Khachatur Avetisyan and Ludvig Duryan. Joined by soloists Gayane Sahakyan and Gegham Manukyan, and supported by an orchestra conducted by Mikayel Avetisyan, this piece was not only a performance — it was a cry from history, honoring those who were silenced.

The spirit of remembrance continued through dance, as Aida Amirkhanian, a skilled dancer and choreographer, moved across the stage, expressing grief, resistance, and hope through motion. Her work captured emotions that words alone could not.

One of the most emotional moments came with a reading by Raffi Joe Wartanian, Glendale’s first Poet Laureate. His words touched on themes of identity, memory, and survival, pulling from his experience as an Armenian-American writer, musician, and educator. His poetry helped everyone feel the deep roots and rich stories that connect generations of Armenians.

The energy lifted when the Lernazang Ensemble took the stage. This passionate group, founded by cultural leaders Natalie Kamajian and Armen Adamian, is known for preserving and performing Armenian folk music and dance. Their presentation was lively and educational, making history come alive through rhythm and movement.

Then something magical happened — a group of young audience members from the Ararat Dance Group rose from their seats and joined the performers on stage. Their spontaneous dancing brought the entire room to its feet in applause. It was a moment of shared pride and joy, proof that Armenian culture is not only surviving — it is thriving in the hearts of the next generation.

The evening closed with a heartfelt speech from newly elected Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian, who reminded everyone that remembrance must lead to action.

“The people will not remain silent in the face of injustice,” he said. “We affirm our call for the United States and the international community to observe every pressure on Azerbaijan to end these egregious human rights violations.”

Mayor Najarian’s words struck a powerful chord as the Armenian people continue to face hardship in the region today. His message made it clear: remembering the past is not enough — we must also speak out against current injustices.

“Our gathering tonight is about remembrance,” he continued. “But also about action. It’s about making sure the pain of the past is never forgotten — and that the injustices of the present are not ignored.”

He encouraged the community to stay engaged and participate in the Week of Remembrance events taking place throughout Glendale.

As the Armenian people continue to fight for justice and peace, nights like this remind the world of their strength, their culture, and their unwavering spirit.

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