The month of February of 2018 was a big month for the VARTAVAR Armenian Choir of Jordan. The choir received an offer for a joint concert from Jordan’s well-known Dozan and Autar Choir. Although VARTAVAR Armenian Choir of Jordan has given three concerts since it was established in January 2016, this one was going to be special in that the choir was going to perform in front of a new audience and with a professional choir. Indeed, it was an honor for the Armenian choir to perform with a choir that has received several international awards and has been awarded by King Abdallah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, but it was also difficult and required a sense of responsibility.

The concert was also going to be an honor for founding director of VARTAVAR Armenian Choir of Jordan Vartouhi Toroian-Nersesian as a songwriter. For the first time, an Arab choir was going to perform her song “Awakening” (lyrics by Lilit Markarian). Jordan’s leading choir was going to perform Armenian songs; moreover, it was going to express the desire to give joint concerts and include Armenian songs in its list of songs.

After VARTAVAR’s second concert, musical director of Dozan and Autar Choir Nedi Muna was charmed by spiritual Armenian songs. “Armenian songs are marvelous and touching. I couldn’t stop crying while listening to the song “Erebouni-Yerevan”, and I would like my choir to perform the song “Awakening” as well.” This laid the foundation for the joint concert.

On 6, 7 and 8 February, the choirs gave concerts attended by leader of the Armenian community of Jordan, Supreme Archimandrite Avedis Iprajian.

The two choirs performed the song “Awakening”, and the song was also performed with a dance performed by ballet teachers of the King Hussein Foundation’s National Culture and Arts Center Cynthia and Kasia Tokajian, who choreographed the dance. Vartouhi Toroian-Nersesian performed her song “The Last Song of Autumn” with the accompaniment of merited hobo player of the Symphony Orchestra of Jordan Taleen Shehranian.

The audience praised the performance of Komitas’s song “Zar-zingin”. The performance of world famous Arab singer Feyruz’s song “Sahar al lalali” (composed by Rahbani Brothers, adapted by Vartouhi Toroian-Nersesian) in multiple voices stunned the Arab audience.

VARTAVAR’s concert ended with a performance of the famous song “Erebouni-Yerevan”.

At the end, the choirs performed the beautiful and symbolic song “Khallina Nimshi” (translated into “Let’s Walk”) (adapted by founding director of Dozan and Autar Choir Shirin Abou Khadri).

Among the participants of the concert was the Harmony of Life Choir, one of the members of which is Armenian.

It was a great honor to receive such an appraisal from famous choirmaster Samia Ghannum, who has made tremendous contributions to the development of choral art in Jordan.

With its beautiful performances, VARTAVAR kept its reputation and the reputation of the Armenian nation high among foreigners.

With new plans and with the hope for the victory campaign of Armenian Song

VARTAVAR Armenian Choir of Jordan