Councilmember Adrin Nazarian Celebrates Armenian Heritage Month and Welcomes LA Opera Music Director Domingo Hindoyan to City Hall
LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles City Councilmember Adrin Nazarian celebrated October as Armenian Heritage Month in the City of Los Angeles and welcomed Domingo Hindoyan, the new Richard Seaver Music Director of LA Opera, to City Hall. The presentation honored Armenian history, culture, identity, and celebrated the role of the arts in carrying that legacy across generations. “A nation’s memory lives in the words its people speak, the stories they tell, the music they compose, and the art they create,” said Councilmember Nazarian. “Heritage is something we continue to build, express, and share with the world. We could not be prouder to have Maestro Hindoyan making his artistic home in Los Angeles.”
Welcoming Maestro Hindoyan
Councilmember Nazarian presented Maestro Hindoyan with a City Certificate for his extraordinary career and his new role. His arrival marks an exciting new chapter for one of the nation’s leading opera companies and an opportunity to further strengthen Los Angeles’s reputation as a global center for artistic excellence, innovation, and cultural exchange.
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, to a family with Armenian roots, Maestro Hindoyan represents the remarkable ways cultural heritage travels across generations and finds new expression around the world. His journey from Venezuela’s renowned El Sistema music education program to the stages of some of the world’s most prestigious opera houses reflects a lifelong dedication to music and its ability to bring people together across languages, backgrounds, and borders.
As he begins his tenure at LA Opera, Maestro Hindoyan brings an international artistic perspective and a wealth of experience leading world-class orchestras and opera productions. His appointment is a moment of pride for Los Angeles’s Armenian-American community and an opportunity to celebrate the enduring influence of Armenian heritage in the world of performing arts.
“I am deeply honored by this recognition from the City of Los Angeles, and especially grateful to Councilmember Nazarian for honoring the Armenian heritage that is part of my own story. Music has always been a way for me to connect with people across cultures and traditions,” said Maestro Hindoyan. “Los Angeles is a city of extraordinary diversity and creativity, and I am thrilled to make it my artistic home as we begin this exciting new chapter together at LA Opera.”
Preserving Armenian Heritage in Los Angeles
The Councilmember also highlighted the Los Angeles Armenian American Historic Context Statement, a two-year project supported by his office. A collaboration between Los Angeles City Planning, the USC Dornsife Institute of Armenian Studies, and Environmental Science Associates, the project will tell the story of Armenian Americans in Los Angeles through the political, social, and cultural life of the community and the institutions it has built. It will create a framework for identifying and preserving the places that matter to the Armenian American experience in the city, and for recognizing the individuals, groups, and organizations that helped shape it. “The Armenian American experience is deeply woven into the historic and cultural fabric of Los Angeles. Through this project, we are establishing a comprehensive framework to safeguard the landmarks, organizations, and individuals that defined our neighborhood hubs and community institutions,” stated Vince Bertoni, Los Angeles City Planner Director.
Celebrating Armenian Music and Dance
The celebration featured a performance by Allen Dishigrikyan of the Lark Musical Society, who played Prelude No. 19 in G minor by Armenian composer Eduard Abrahamyan.
Barekamutiun International Dance Studio also performed Armenian folk dance, celebrating a living tradition that preserves the customs, stories, and collective memory of the Armenian people through movement and music. “Dance is more than an art form; it is a powerful expression of our history, identity and heritage. For over 25 years, Barekamutiun International Dance Studio has been dedicated to preserving Armenian culture in Los Angeles and passing our traditions on to future generations,” remarked Lusine Gevorgyan, Founder and Artistic Director of the studio. “It was an honor to share our heritage at Los Angeles City Hall, and we are grateful to Councilmember Nazarian for this meaningful opportunity.”
“Our arts institutions are strongest when they reflect the diversity of our communities and invite more people to see themselves in our cultural life,” said Councilmember Nazarian. “Today we celebrated the enduring bond between heritage and art, and the way our traditions inspire the next generation.”
