BY ANI SARKISSIAN
SANTA ANA, Calif.—On December 15, Gugasian Hall was decked out with holly, everyone was in a jolly Christmas spirit, and the students of Ari Guiragos Minassian were ready to put on a spectacular show! Families and community members gathered for the annual AGM Christmas Program.
This year’s program, Christmas Chorus, took the audience on a musical Christmas journey in three languages—English, Armenian, and Spanish. The students entered the hall singing the hymn “Khorhourt Medz.” Principal Kohar Zaher welcomed the gathering in her opening remarks and explained the significance of various Christmas traditions to the audience. Rev. Fr. Karekin Bedourian led the opening prayer and spoke of the true meaning of Christmas.
The instrumental music class kicked off the program playing two Christmas songs on their violins, violas, and cellos. Dressed in their Christmas best, the students then ascended the stage class by class ready to perform the songs they had worked so hard to learn. With songs like “We Need a Little Christmas,” “Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas,” as well as Spanish songs including “Nanita, Nana,” the students enthused the crowd as they joyfully listened. Various Armenian songs and poems were also performed throughout the program, showing the students’ Armenian spirit and love for their culture.
As the program came to an end, Santa made his way into the hall with gifts in tow for all the students! Christmas Chorus was indeed a success.
