*BAYDZIG KALAYDJIAN*
My pen rebels against marking the end of the precious life that is truly sacred for each Melkoniantsi. The farewell ceremony that took place was a tribute to our idol, Maestro Sebouh Apkarian. All the segments of our nation revere him. He achieved this with his undeniable merits, many gifts and talents, dedication and seriousness.
Truly, all things good, right and beautiful were shining in the life of Maestro Apkarian, a pure intellectual whose heart was a lyre, whose thoughts were a book and whose soul captured your breath. He was a flesh-and-bone idol revered by the Armenian nation. The witnesses are the legions of those generations firmly ensconced in all the corners of the world that learned from his noble spirit.
In the Armenian reality, it is a rare phenomenon to see an individual win the sympathy and respect of all segments of the nation. He did not want medals or honors as the success of each student was a medal on his chest. He was an ideal teacher of the arts, a spiritual mentor, a conductor who taught classic and folk songs and who treated his students honestly. His sweet disposition shined with talent, a titanic personality that brought out respect for him in everyone.
He was a philosopher, friend, mentor, teacher, orator, preacher, sports-lover and he always aimed high in everything and he raised others with him, till the shining peak. And it was so in everything, always upwards…
Despite his bold stance, he never looked down on anybody but rather the opposite — he bowed before the weak and showed the path for development to the ignorant and taught to articulate in beautiful Western Armenian. He gave to everyone his mind and heart, and everyone bowed down before the great mentor.
Wit and smiles were typical of him. Until today, echoes from Melkonian’s study desks, stadiums, choir halls reflect the literary and musical Friday night programs. Their warmth has also been reflected in our independent Fatherland thanks to the performances of the KOHAR ensemble. He was proud of “his new Yerevan.” Owing to him, Gumri revived and rose like a phoenix from ashes. He welcomed the Lachin pass and prospering Artsakh. Beyond that, he relentlessly attacked the parasites and deserters of the nation, the ones selling off the national assets and the ones in support of that.
Maestro Apkarian was a wonderful mix of noble and lofty aspirations. He believed in the KOHAR ensemble and was lucky to find his worthy place in that noble Armenian institution. With his unique and imposing look, he shied away from the spotlight, believing in his soul that the only thing that mattered was the Armenian spirit. Melkonian shaped his soul with the world of art. It planted the seeds of art whose growth and blossoming granted him deep satisfaction. And through KOHAR he carried out his goals in the world of art. He fell down on his knees at the altar of Armenian music and culture and lived in a trance while performing. He spread the meaning of Ayp-Pen-Kim around the world.
His message remains and we pay tribute to his memory.