CSUN University News Clippings

Alum Mary Balian releases new CD, Bashdenk

(October 23, 2009)

by Lisa Kirazian

Published: Friday October 23, 2009

Mary Balian.

“I want to encourage others through music,” says Balian.

Armenian singer-songwriter Mary Balian has released a CD of contemporary Armenian Christian worship music. “Bashdenk” (Let’s Worship) is a passion project, five years in the making for the L.A.- based Balian.

The CD boasts an array of high-energy, Armenian-styled pop music, like “Khachin Zinvor” (Soldier of the Cross) to contemporary Armenian versions of familiar hymns like “Aghaghageh Deeroch” (Shout to the Lord) and “Eench Medz es Toon” (How Great Art Thou) to heartfelt original songs like the title track.

Balian’s purpose is to reach Armenians of all ages with a message of God’s love and hope.

“My desire is to allow Armenians to worship in their own language, through contemporary Armenian Christian music,” says Balian. “I want to encourage others through music and service.”

With that passion for service in mind, Balian teams up with organizations so that they can help each other’s outreach efforts. For example, she will be performing for the Armenian Milk Fund on March 6, 2010.

Her own faith has inspired her music and has proven an anchor in the midst of personal challenges that have come her way. As a teenager, she lost her father at a young age. As a high-school guidance counselor, Balian deals with at-risk youth issues every day. And as a married Armenian woman balancing work, family and art, she has reached an experienced perspective, which helps her to encourage others, both students and peers.

Balian and her husband Manuel Saghbazarian are also leaders of the couples’ ministry at their church, United Armenian Congregational, in Hollywood, California.

A graduate of UCLA (B.A.) and CSUN (M.S.), Mary Balian has performed solo and in groups, on radio and in live shows around the world. Some of her upcoming performances and concerts include Toronto and Hollywood, Calif.

Mary Balian, a biography

Mary Balian is an Armenian-American singer/songwriter whose repertoire includes pop, world, dance, and contemporary Christian music.

She has been singing and songwriting since she was six years old and has always sung in choirs. In high school, she was part of an award-winning show choir for four years; during college, she was in Awaken a cappella and recorded two CDs with the group. She sings at various churches and is part of the worship team at her church. In addition, she has performed in several languages - on television, radio and in concert.

She was part of a group of singers who recorded a Christian album in Farsi. Recently, she toured France and Armenia on the New Hope Band Tour and has appeared on the “Unshakable Live” television show.

On April 24, 2004, Mary attended an Armenian Christian worship night for the Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. There was only one Armenian song sung that night, which was very moving to her; all of the other songs were familiar praise songs in English. While she knows and appreciates those English songs, she was disappointed that there weren’t any more Armenian songs sung. It also made her realize that there weren’t many Armenian Contemporary Christian worship songs available. A deep desire to record an Armenian language Christian album formed.

That is when she decided to record Bashdenk. It has taken five years to complete.

Publication: The Armenian Reporter