Honoring Armenian music’s best

Gretchen Hoffman

Hovhannes Shahbazyan took top honors as best male vocalist and

Zaruhi Babayan headed the list as best female vocalist of the year at

the fifth annual Armenian Music Awards.

About 1,500 people packed The Alex Theatre on Sunday night for

this year’s Armenian Music Awards. Guest announcers included System

of a Down singer Serj Tankian and Stewart Copeland, former drummer

for The Police.

“We had about four hours of show and then we had all of the stars

popping in and out all night,” said Peter Bahlawanian, the show’s

founder and producer.

Other awards included Best Newcomer (Arthur Ispirian), Best Dance

Album (“Harem” by R.E.G. Project) and Best Traditional Album (“In

Bygone Days” by Rouben Matevosyan).

THE WINNERS:

* Best Alternative Folk Album: “Ari Im Sokhak” by The Anoush

Hngyak.

* Best Entertainment Show of the Year: Z Project.

* Best Jazz Fusion Album: “Travels” by Levon Ichkhanian.

* Best Pop Retro Album: “The Road To...” by Zaruhi Babayan.

* Best Popular Album: “Djaheloutioun” by Adiss Harmandian.

* The Michael Ganian Award for Best Modern Instrumental Album:

“Chickpeas” by Milcho Leviev.

* Best Traditional Instrumental Album: “Santir -- The Armenian

Santour” by Sarkis Petrosyan.

* The Stepan Lousikian Award for Best Original Contemporary

Album: “For Love” by Elvina Makarian.

* Best Modern Contemporary Album: “Misho Aghchig” by Alla

Levonian.

* Best Traditional Album: “In Bygone Days” by Rouben Matevosyan.

* Best Dance Album: “Harem” by R.E.G. Project.

* Best Compilation Album: “Starband” by Armenian Jazz Band,

conductor Armen Martirossyan.

* Best Album Cover: “Yeraz” by Gor Mkhitarian, designer Arsineh

Khachikian.

* Best Male Vocalist: Hovhannes Shahbazyan.

* Best Female Vocalist: Zaruhi Babayan.

* Best Liturgical Album: “Arevagal In Geghard” by the Lusavorich

Choir of the Vazgenian Seminary of Sevan, supervisor Very Reverend

Ter Bagrat Galstanian.

* Best Newcomer: Arthur Ispirian.

* Best Music Video: “Lorke” by Ida Sarkissian, director Hrant

Movsesian.

* Anoush Humanitarian Award: America-Russia Cultural Development

Fund.

* Lifetime Achievement Award: Robert Amirkhanian.

* Anoush Peace & Unity Awareness Award, World Artist of The Year:

Arto Tuncboyaciyan.

* Best AMA Commercial of the Year: Old Lady, Z Project.

* Best Original Song: Ari-Ari by Liana, composer Aram Avagyan.