A Concert in Memory of Edward Avedisian

On June 18, a special concert was held at the Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall, dedicated to the memory of the renowned Armenian-American philanthropist Edward Avedisian.

The stage was shared by scholarship recipients of the “Music for Future” Foundation and beneficiaries of the “Born in Artsakh” educational program, performing alongside the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Sergey Smbatyan.

The evening’s program featured works by Aram Khachaturian, Eduard Baghdasaryan, Michel Mangani, Pedro Iturralde, Robert Schumann, Ghazaros Saryan, George Gershwin, Alexander Arutiunian, Igor Stravinsky / Guido Agosti, and Sergei Rachmaninoff.

The concert was also honored by the presence of Pamela Avedisian, the wife of Edward Avedisian. Edward Avedisian, a musician and philanthropist of Armenian descent, was born in the United States. His parents were from Kharberd, Western Armenia, and relocated to the U.S. after the Armenian Genocide. The family had four children: Paramaz, Zvart, Edward, and Poghos.

After graduating from college, Edward Avedisian performed with symphony orchestras, ballet, and opera musicians, and played clarinet with the Boston Pops Orchestra. He also collaborated with the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, Armenian Radio and Television Orchestra, and the Armenian National Chamber Orchestra. For many years, he also taught at Boston University.

Avedisian was deeply committed to philanthropy. In 1999, through his generous support, the Khoren and Shushanik Avedisian School was built in Yerevan, named after his parents. His dedication to Armenia didn’t stop there. He continued to invest in education, believing deeply that quality education must be accessible to all.

Edward Avedisian dreamed of a better world for future generations. It is no coincidence that the concert dedicated to his memory featured talented young musicians—whose education continues thanks to the efforts of the “Music for Future” Foundation, the “Born in Artsakh” program, and Sergey Smbatyan.