“All Things Armenian” Premieres on Campus KFSR 90.7 Radio Station

Hakop Tataryan
Staff Writer

For the past several years, Armenians around the valley have tuned into the Hye Oozh show, airing on KFSR 90.7 FM every Saturday morning from 9 am until noon, to enjoy an array of Armenian music. Now they can add another hour to their listening pleasure as a new radio show called All Things Armenian has been added to the KFSR lineup from noon until 1 p.m. Barlow Der Mugrdechian of the Armenian Studies Program, KFSR station manager Joe Moore, and Hye Oozh DJ Sevag Tateosian developed the concept for the new show.

All Things Armenian features interviews with a variety of guests and also showcases classical Armenian music, from such composers as Aram Khatchatourian and Alan Hovhanness. The first show aired on November 1st and featured an interview with author Peter Balakian.
Professor Der Mugrdechian, who hosts the show, said, “This is a great opportunity for people in the greater Fresno community, both Armenian and non-Armenian, to enjoy good music and listen to interesting interviews.” Many of the people he has interviewed have been guest lecturers at Fresno State. Dr. Ara Sanjian, Kazan Visiting Professor of Armenian Studies at Fresno State and author Hayden Herrera, who wrote the biography of artist Arshile Gorky are among those who have been interviewed for the show.

Current news from Armenia and national and local news are also part of the show. Students from Fresno State read the news on radio every week and Professor Der Mugrdechian is looking for students interested in learning about radio journalism to assist in producing the shows.

“I am very excited about the new program. I think it will be a great show that provides its audience with important Armenian news, especially from the San Joaquin Valley,” said Tateosian, who has been a DJ for five years at KFSR. The show adds yet another link between Armenians in the Diaspora and the rest of the world.
All Things Armenian can be heard every Saturday from noon until 1 pm, following the Hye Oozh show. The program is also available on the internet, via the station’s website at www.kfsr.org.