SYDNEY: The Honorable David Clarke MLC has successfully moved a motion in the New South Wales Parliament's Legislative Council, praising a superb concert organised by the Regional Committee of Hamazkaine Armenian Educational and Cultural Society of Australia, featuring the Sayat Nova State Minstrel and Folkloric Ensemble of Armenia.

The Ensemble, led by Professor Tovmas Poghosyan and featuring over a dozen performers from Yerevan, performed before a sold out crowd at The Concourse in Chatswood on September 24th, 2017.

Clarke, moved by this experience, moved the motion pasted below, which was agreed to by the NSW Upper House.

SAYAT NOVA MINSTREL AND FOLKLORIC ENSEMBLE OF ARMENIA CONCERT

The Hon. DAVID CLARKE ( 11:26 ): I move:

(1) That this House notes that:

(a) on Sunday 24 September 2017 the Regional Committee of Hamazkaine Armenian Educational and Cultural Society of Australia hosted a concert featuring the Sayat Nova State Minstrel and Folkloric Ensemble of Armenia at the Concourse Concert Hall Chatswood, attended by members and friends of the Armenian Australian community;

(b) the concert was part of the Emerge Festival organised by Willoughby City Council , which is the largest cultural and entertainment celebration on Sydney's North Shore;

(c) those who attended as special guests included:

(i) His Grace Haigazoun Najarian, Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Australia and New Zealand;

(ii) Mr Vicken Kalloghlian, Chairman, Hamazkaine Armenian Educational and Cultural Society Australia;

(iii) the Hon. David Clark e MLC, Parliamentary Secretary for Justice;

(iv) Councillor Wendy Norton, representing the Mayor of Willoughby City Council; Councillor Gail Giles-Gidney;

(v) Councillor Judith Rutherford, Willoughby City Council, and Mr Rutherford;

(vi) Councillor Sarkis Yedelian, Ryde City Council;

(vii) Reverend Fathers of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Australia and New Zealand;

(viii) representatives of numerous Armenian-Australian community organisations including the Armenian National Committee of Australia, Hamazkaine Regional Committee, the Homenetmen Regional Committee, the Armenian Relief Society Regional Committee and representatives of the Armenian media;

(d) the Sayat Nova Minstrel and Folkloric Ensemble of Armenia was:

(i) re-established in 1972 under the leadership of Professor Trovmas Poghosian and features both professional singers and a wide range of traditional Armenian instruments;

(ii) has performed worldwide including in Russia, Georgia, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, the United Kingdom, the United Stat es and extensively throughout Armenia; and

(e) the Hamazkaine Educational and Cultural Society was established in 1928 with the aim of preserving the ancient language and culture of the Armenian people, and was established in Australia in 1963 where it currently offers hundreds of children and adults the opportunity to participate in dance and theatre performances.

(2) That this House:

(a) welcomes the Sayat Nova Minstrel and Folkloric Ensemble of Armenia on its first visit to Australia; and

(b) commends the Hamazkaine Educational and Cultural Society for hosting the concert by the Sayat Nova Minstrel and Folkloric Ensemble of Armenia held at Willoughby on Sydney 24 September 2017 and for its ongoing contribution to the cultural life of the State.

Motion agreed to.