Sarkis Boyadjian
September 7, 1931 — November 17, 2022
Sarkis Movses Boyadjian was born on September 7, 1931 in Zahle, Lebanon to Mariam Kaprielian and Movses Boyadjian, both Genocide orphans and survivors. Although he was born in Zahle, where his mother had an aunt, he grew up in Beirut. His summers were spent in Zahle or Damascus, where his father would send the family to escape the heat of Beirut summers.
Sarkis was the oldest of five, three boys–Sarkis, Samuel and Hovsep– and two girls – Elise and Araxie. He attended the Mekhitarian School until the 6th grade, where instruction was in French, and later attended Genats High School.
When he was 13 years old, he was hit by a car in the street while taking his father lunch. His right leg was shattered, and he was taken to Hotel Dieu Hospital where the surgeon recommended amputation. His mother, who was a nurse, did everything she could to save his leg, and took him to AUB hospital where she knew the doctors and nurses, including a surgeon named Dr. Haddad who saved his leg. After weeks of recuperation, he went to Ghazir and stayed there with his mother for nearly half a year to recuperate.
When he was in the 10th grade, his father decided to move the family to Armenia with what would be the last caravan from Lebanon on the ship Pobeda (Victory). There was a lot of Soviet propaganda extolling the virtues of Communist life, and his father being a Genocide survivor, wanted his children to grow up and continue their education in Armenia.
They sold their house and packed up their belongings, but when they arrived to board the ship they were told they could not leave. Essentially homeless, they returned to their home and tried to get their house back, and were forced to take loans from family and friends but even then, still didn’t have enough to purchase the house. The new owner agreed to return the house on condition they pay off the loans, so the family lived for a while in the basement of the house where Sarkis practiced his voice and they kept their belongings, while they rented the upper floor. After 4 or so years they regained full ownership of their home.
Young Sarkis, being the oldest, began to study tailoring in order to make a living and help support his parents and family.
However, singing was his true passion. He first studied voice with composer-conductor Hampartzoum Berberian, and in 1952 he studied voice at the Lebanese National Conservatory in the class of Professor Torossian, who was a baritone. Young Sarkis began singing as a baritone.
In 1956 he went to Paris in order to obtain his certification in Tailoring, and at that time studied voice with Madame Beaugeaut of the Opera Comique of Paris. It is in Paris that his beautiful lyric tenor voice was born.
In 1957 he returned to Beirut and re-enrolled in the Conservatory, this time under the direction of Madame Perazzi, Professor of Voice.
The 1958 Lebanese Civil War affected him deeply, and he decided he wanted to leave Lebanon for good.
During this time, he gave many recitals, at the American University of Beirut and with choral groups. He was one of the most sought-after soloists in all of Lebanon.
He sang in front of the great composer Aram Khachatourian during his 1961 visit to Beirut, and was even invited by the musical giant to participate in a concert with him.
In 1961, he gave one final solo recital concert at AUB with the American Ambassador in attendance, who secured him a multiple student visa for the US.
One of his good friends was going to attend an evangelical convention in Miami and helped secure him a ticket, so he flew with him to Miami. At this convention, a minister named Samuel Doctorian asked Sarkis to accompany him to Brazil to sing while he evangelized. For 40 days they toured Brazil, and even visited remote indigenous tribes.
At some point Sarkis decided he wanted to return to the US, and he flew back, this time to New York where he lived in the Bronx for a short time with a friend of his mother’s, Mrs Jamjian. He found work as a tailor and a family friend Mr. Halajian helped him, but times were tough and it was difficult making ends meet. When he wasn’t working, he sang in choirs and churches in New Jersey.
In early 1962, he decided to move to the West Coast. He knew then Pastor Lapajian from the Haigazian College circle, where Sarkis sang with many alumni. Pastor (later Archbishop) Lapajian asked him to sing in the church and offered him work. Lapajian later introduced him to Knarik Ohanian, who on November 4, 1963 became his wife.
In December of 1964, his daughter Ani was born, and in October of 1966, his daughter Raffi was born. They were his pride and joy.
In Los Angeles, Sarkis worked as a tailor at Woody’s Mens’ Store and later worked on the catering circuit and owned his own hot lunch truck. In his later years, he worked as a tailor at Si Beau on Melrose.
He never gave up his love for music, and in the mid 60s attended the UCLA Opera Workshop and studied under Dr. Jan Popper and participated in many operatic productions.
He was a loving father and family man, and was beloved by all of our extended family as he loved to sing and tell stories whenever our family gathered. He enjoyed singing while his daughter or niece played the piano, and the house was always filled with music in his presence.
He traveled to Armenia in 1999 and toured the country and Artsakh, which was one of the highlights of his travels. He always spoke about returning, and in later years, always cherished those memories. He expressed a desire to visit his sisters who lived far away, especially his younger sister Araxie who he hadn’t seen in a very long time. He loved all his nieces and nephews and would always be happy to see and spend time with them. He loved his siblings dearly and would do anything for them.
He was the choir director and singer at the Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello for over 60 years, singing every Sunday with unwavering loyalty. He received commendations for his service, including one from the Prelacy.
Throughout his life he sang in many choirs, including as a soloist with the Alemshah Chorus in Paris, the Cosmopolitan Chorale in New York, the Pro-Komitas Choral Society, with whom he has recordings, and the Kousan Chorus in Los Angeles. Notable concerts include his 1961 recital in Beirut, the Pro-Komitas Choral Society debut concert at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, and as guest soloist at the Hampartzoum Berberian Jubilee Concert in New York City in December of 1973, to honor the conductor who had been his first teacher.
Sarkis passed away in the early morning hours of November 17, 2022 suddenly at home. He is survived by his widow Knarik Boyadjian, daughter Ani and her husband Apo Boghigian and grandsons Shahan and Mher, his son Raffi Boyadjian, brother Samuel Boyadjian as well as sisters Araxie Schwendowius of Berlin and Elise Kalemkarian of London and their families, and also the children and families of his late brother Hovsep, all of whom he loved so dearly.
May his voice sing on in the heavenly choir and may he rest in eternal peace.
Sarkis was the oldest of five, three boys–Sarkis, Samuel and Hovsep– and two girls – Elise and Araxie. He attended the Mekhitarian School until the 6th grade, where instruction was in French, and later attended Genats High School.
When he was 13 years old, he was hit by a car in the street while taking his father lunch. His right leg was shattered, and he was taken to Hotel Dieu Hospital where the surgeon recommended amputation. His mother, who was a nurse, did everything she could to save his leg, and took him to AUB hospital where she knew the doctors and nurses, including a surgeon named Dr. Haddad who saved his leg. After weeks of recuperation, he went to Ghazir and stayed there with his mother for nearly half a year to recuperate.
When he was in the 10th grade, his father decided to move the family to Armenia with what would be the last caravan from Lebanon on the ship Pobeda (Victory). There was a lot of Soviet propaganda extolling the virtues of Communist life, and his father being a Genocide survivor, wanted his children to grow up and continue their education in Armenia.
They sold their house and packed up their belongings, but when they arrived to board the ship they were told they could not leave. Essentially homeless, they returned to their home and tried to get their house back, and were forced to take loans from family and friends but even then, still didn’t have enough to purchase the house. The new owner agreed to return the house on condition they pay off the loans, so the family lived for a while in the basement of the house where Sarkis practiced his voice and they kept their belongings, while they rented the upper floor. After 4 or so years they regained full ownership of their home.
Young Sarkis, being the oldest, began to study tailoring in order to make a living and help support his parents and family.
However, singing was his true passion. He first studied voice with composer-conductor Hampartzoum Berberian, and in 1952 he studied voice at the Lebanese National Conservatory in the class of Professor Torossian, who was a baritone. Young Sarkis began singing as a baritone.
In 1956 he went to Paris in order to obtain his certification in Tailoring, and at that time studied voice with Madame Beaugeaut of the Opera Comique of Paris. It is in Paris that his beautiful lyric tenor voice was born.
In 1957 he returned to Beirut and re-enrolled in the Conservatory, this time under the direction of Madame Perazzi, Professor of Voice.
The 1958 Lebanese Civil War affected him deeply, and he decided he wanted to leave Lebanon for good.
During this time, he gave many recitals, at the American University of Beirut and with choral groups. He was one of the most sought-after soloists in all of Lebanon.
He sang in front of the great composer Aram Khachatourian during his 1961 visit to Beirut, and was even invited by the musical giant to participate in a concert with him.
In 1961, he gave one final solo recital concert at AUB with the American Ambassador in attendance, who secured him a multiple student visa for the US.
One of his good friends was going to attend an evangelical convention in Miami and helped secure him a ticket, so he flew with him to Miami. At this convention, a minister named Samuel Doctorian asked Sarkis to accompany him to Brazil to sing while he evangelized. For 40 days they toured Brazil, and even visited remote indigenous tribes.
At some point Sarkis decided he wanted to return to the US, and he flew back, this time to New York where he lived in the Bronx for a short time with a friend of his mother’s, Mrs Jamjian. He found work as a tailor and a family friend Mr. Halajian helped him, but times were tough and it was difficult making ends meet. When he wasn’t working, he sang in choirs and churches in New Jersey.
In early 1962, he decided to move to the West Coast. He knew then Pastor Lapajian from the Haigazian College circle, where Sarkis sang with many alumni. Pastor (later Archbishop) Lapajian asked him to sing in the church and offered him work. Lapajian later introduced him to Knarik Ohanian, who on November 4, 1963 became his wife.
In December of 1964, his daughter Ani was born, and in October of 1966, his daughter Raffi was born. They were his pride and joy.
In Los Angeles, Sarkis worked as a tailor at Woody’s Mens’ Store and later worked on the catering circuit and owned his own hot lunch truck. In his later years, he worked as a tailor at Si Beau on Melrose.
He never gave up his love for music, and in the mid 60s attended the UCLA Opera Workshop and studied under Dr. Jan Popper and participated in many operatic productions.
He was a loving father and family man, and was beloved by all of our extended family as he loved to sing and tell stories whenever our family gathered. He enjoyed singing while his daughter or niece played the piano, and the house was always filled with music in his presence.
He traveled to Armenia in 1999 and toured the country and Artsakh, which was one of the highlights of his travels. He always spoke about returning, and in later years, always cherished those memories. He expressed a desire to visit his sisters who lived far away, especially his younger sister Araxie who he hadn’t seen in a very long time. He loved all his nieces and nephews and would always be happy to see and spend time with them. He loved his siblings dearly and would do anything for them.
He was the choir director and singer at the Holy Cross Cathedral in Montebello for over 60 years, singing every Sunday with unwavering loyalty. He received commendations for his service, including one from the Prelacy.
Throughout his life he sang in many choirs, including as a soloist with the Alemshah Chorus in Paris, the Cosmopolitan Chorale in New York, the Pro-Komitas Choral Society, with whom he has recordings, and the Kousan Chorus in Los Angeles. Notable concerts include his 1961 recital in Beirut, the Pro-Komitas Choral Society debut concert at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, and as guest soloist at the Hampartzoum Berberian Jubilee Concert in New York City in December of 1973, to honor the conductor who had been his first teacher.
Sarkis passed away in the early morning hours of November 17, 2022 suddenly at home. He is survived by his widow Knarik Boyadjian, daughter Ani and her husband Apo Boghigian and grandsons Shahan and Mher, his son Raffi Boyadjian, brother Samuel Boyadjian as well as sisters Araxie Schwendowius of Berlin and Elise Kalemkarian of London and their families, and also the children and families of his late brother Hovsep, all of whom he loved so dearly.
May his voice sing on in the heavenly choir and may he rest in eternal peace.
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