AYF Zartonk Chapter to Host 3rd Annual Open Mic Night

La Crescenta, CA–The Crescenta Valley ‘Zartonk’ chapter of the Armenian Youth Federation will be hosting its much anticipated third annual Open Mic Nigh, Friday June 20th.

The event, titled, “Speak Your Mind,” will be held at the La Crescenta Armenian center at 2633 Honolulu Ave. Montrose, CA 91020 and will kick off at 7pm and last until 1am. The event is free and open to the public.

“Since we started the Zartonk Open Mic Night in 2006, it has grown to become an open forum for the community to gather and express themselves artistically, emotionally, and intellectually,” said Zartonk Chairperson Sanan Shirinian.

According to Shirinian, events like these instill and support Armenian culture among today’s youth by providing them with a comfortable environment to experiment and share their interpretations of our heritage.

The event will begin at 7 pm. and is set to end at 1 am. It will feature original music composed by young up and coming artists in the Armenian-American community. There will be live DJ music, comedy acts, poetry recitals, instrumental guitar and duduk performances, as well as solo vocal performances of Armenian National, folk and opera music. Art and photo exhibits will also be on display throughout the evening. The program will also showcase videos produced by amature film makers spotlighting community activism and AYFs ongoing programs in Armenia and the Diaspora.

“Zartonk’s Open Mic night is hands down one of my favorite AYF social events,” according to 16 year old Crescenta Valley High Student Vartan Dudukjian. “It gives people my age an opportunity to get together with old and new friends and learn about our culture in a very fun way.”

Last year’s open mic night featured, among others, a riveting performance of Armenian folk music by “Las Vegabond Girls,” the passionate prose of a young Armenian faced with the threat of white genocide, and solo guitar performances of songs from the day’s of the Karabakh Movement.

There will be plenty of open slots throughout the night for anyone interested in expressing their thoughts, showing off their talents, or just simply looking to have a good time by dancing.

Below are links of video’s from last year’s Open Mic Night:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=XEmpIhkAADg

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vqXC87vfHaA

For More Information Please visit the event’s Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=18801242022

If you would like to perform during the event please email:

AYFZARTONK@GMAIL.COM