In May 2009 Alan Hovhaness’ home town, the Boston suburb of Arlington Massachusetts, was in the midst of preparations to kick off the 2011 Centennial celebrations with a number of events and activities involving dozens of local citizens and civic institutions. On May 17th the Hovhaness Centennial Arlington celebrations officially began, marked by musical offerings and the dedication of a memorial plaque.

It was in Arlington that a precocious musical prodigy named Alan Chakmakjian wrote his first compositions as a student, already of such sophistication that he had them performed at Arlington High School. It was also here that he began to publish his music under his then-name of "Alan Scott Hovaness", another reason for the town to claim him as their own.

Efforts to promote the recognition of Arlington’s most famous musical citizen began in earnest in 2001. Jack Johnston, a neighbor of the Chakmakjians who had met Hovhaness as a child, and Arlington Town Treasurer John Bilafer authored a “Warrant Article” placing the Town behind a permanent memorial. Lacking funding, however, development was stalled until 2008 when a coalition including nearly all the town’s official and educational resources formed to push the Centennial celebrations forward.

Groups, officials, and some locals worked tirelessly to get ready for the kick-off events. In October 2008, The Arlington Historical Society presented a talk by Arlington High School Director of Fine Arts emeritus, Dr. Pasquale Tassone, who worked with Hovhaness for a two-day festival of his works in Arlington back in 1974. The Arlington Cultural Council then awarded a financial grant to a committee managed by leading citizen Robert Mirak, who threw his Armenian Cultural Foundation (below right) behind the project, including a concert in the Foundation’s magnificent headquarters.

The Arlington Uncle Sam Committee, which promotes Arlington as the home of the “real” Uncle Sam, Samuel Wilson (who, like Alan Hovhaness, also left town, never to make his home there again), stepped forward to offer help publicizing Arlington Centennial activities as they continue after the May 17th events. Launching this Alan Hovhaness Centennial Website was one such effort in this capacity. The Chairman of the Committee, Laurence O. McKinney (pictured left), has an interesting connection to the composer: his Aunt Margaret, who died three years ago at the age of 93, used to feed a very hungry young Boston Conservatory student named "Alan Scott Hovaness” a decent dinner occasionally when she was an art student at the Museum of Fine Arts School in the 1930’s. He’s been a fan ever since she introduced him to the composer's world famous Mysterious Mountain symphony back in the late 1950’s.

On April 27th, with the opening of Town Meeting, the planning began in earnest. With the town’s governing body on board,  the plaque was unveiled at the Jefferson Cutter House (above left). This historic building not only figured in the retreat of the British soldiers after the battle of Lexington (the “shot heard around the world” that signaled the beginning of the American Revolution), it now houses a museum dedicated to Arlington’s famous sculptor, Cyrus Dallin, famed for his “Appeal to the Great Spirit” as well as the statue of the angel Moroni on every Mormon temple. Young Alan Hovhaness couldn’t have missed Dallin's noted sculpture of “the virtues” on the flag base at the Arlington town hall.

The actual concert took place in the afternoon at the Arlington Town Hall Robbins Auditorium. Two student ensembles from Arlington High School, conducted by Tassone, played pieces by Hovhaness, with piano accompaniment. Other musical offerings were presented at the same time, featuring various musicians coordinated through Mirak’s Armenian Cultural Foundation.  These included a pleasing new piano duo arrangement by young composer Nicco Athens, in attendance, of the first movement of Hovhaness' 11th symphony. Also offered up was a striking new piece by Mr. Tassone himself, "Dzon".

If Arlington has neglected its famous son until now, it has certainly changed its tune for the Centennial, and the next two years should hold promise both for Arlington and, we hope, the greater musical community.

Those in the vicinity, or on the net, who wish to become involved in the Centennial are cordially invited to contact the Uncle Sam Committee at Hovhaness2011@aol.com.