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Hye Oozh - Saturdays 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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 Hye Oozh is 90.7 KFSR's weekly program dedicated to contemporary and traditional Armenian music and culture. The program began in 1991, and is now hosted by Tatevik Ekezian, Vartush Mesropyan and Marine Vardanyan. Tune in every Saturday from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Pacific Time for Hye Oozh!
Read more about Hye Oozh online at http://www.HyeOozh.com
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| Hye Oozh hosts: Tatevik Ekezian |
 I'm Tatevik Ekezian, Program Director of the Hye Oozh Radio Show. I was born in Yerevan, Armenia and my family moved to the wonderful city of Fresno in the summer of 1990 and we have resided here ever since. There is a type of magic that happens when all Armenians come together under one "roof"; it's simply amazing and empowering. Perhaps it was this magic, joined with my family's patriotism that pushed me to become and stay active in the Armenian community.
I have to say that over the years, we Armenians here in the city of Fresno have become one big family. For me personally, there is a peace and love that I find in this little town that fills my heart. From the time I was a little girl, I always wanted to make a difference. I spent my younger school years at the Armenian Community School of Fresno, and then became very active in the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church: church choir, participated in church readings, youth group, and Sunday school, which all shaped my spiritual life for which I am forever grateful. I attended Hoover High School, where I presided over the Armenian Club for 3 active and fun years, where we held pizza parties, organized car washes and sold candy to raise money for trips, went on jet-ski trips, Magic Mountain, organized Armenian BBQs during Oktoberfest and Mardigras, but really just simply came together, formed a wonderful group of friends and stayed HYE and united. After High School, I began my bachelor’s in Psychology at California State University of Fresno, where I became actively involved with the Armenian Studies Program. I served as Vice President of the Armenian Students Organization, wrote for the Hye Sharzhoom Armenian Newspaper, participated in the Fresno State Academy of English, helped organize the Armenian Film Festival, the April 24th Armenian Genocide Commemoration annual ceremony, excelled in Spanish studies and began my Hye Oozh career. I joined my good friends Sevag Tateosian and Armen Postoyan who were then hosting the show, and we soon became the Hye Oozh trio…
After graduating with my bachelors in Psychology and Minor in Armenian Studies from Fresno State, I joined the ArmeniaFund telethon from 2005-2008 hosting the annual Thanksgiving Day telethon, raising money for Armenia. In the meantime I took on a career in marketing and business for a local company. I also helped and worked with Armenian Television in Fresno and organized great concerts like Tata Simonyan as well as Armenchik in Fresno. I eventually was offered to host a television show, MClub Top 10 Armenian Music Videos in Los Angeles. I have hosted MClub on Horizon Armenian Television for almost 3 years now and going. As a volunteer, I interned at the Community Behavioral (Psychiatric) Center, and the Povorello House, feeding the homeless of Fresno. A few years ago, I gladly joined the Armenian Alumni Association (Armenian Alumni and Friends) serving as vice president for a year, joining all my great friends who formed this organization to give back to the community and to help, guide and mentor current Armenian students. I have served as mistress of ceremonies and have taken part in different fundraiser events. There truly are no words when it comes to summing up all my experiences with my community. I am so blessed and feel so enriched by every face and smile that I have come across, and all the wisdom I have gained; I would never change a single moment of it. God bless all who have crossed and are yet to cross my path. I embrace you with love and appreciation from the heart. (And a special thank you to my family for all the love and support!)
When I first started hosting the Hye Oozh Show, my mental Armenian music library was not exactly full and I had absolutely no experience in the field of broadcasting. I decided to do Hye Oozh and take on such a task because I felt passionate about it. I believed in it, and from the time I was a little girl, my grandmother (my hero), always encouraged me to one day join the Armenian radio we eagerly listened to every Saturday morning. When you believe in something with a passion, everything else will fall into place, even if you have little or no experience. You simply have to believe in yourself and what you are doing, why you are doing it, led by God, and do your absolute best. Hosting the HyeOozh Radio Show alongside Sevag and Armen was lots of fun, sometimes the boys would play nardi (tavloo) in the studio while running the show, some days we would shourj par around the studio blasting the Armenian music, some weeks we had great interviews with prominent Armenians, but overall just had a great time.. When the boys left the show I hosted the show with Shoushan Kahkejian for 2 years and Jenya Bakarian who also joined for a short time. We also had lots of fun and I know it was a learning experience for the girls (the Hye Oozh Ishkhanoohees). When the girls left I was by myself again to host the show, and after a few years 4 wonderful girls joined me and are now helping out: Milena Davoyan, Vartush Mesropyan, Marine Vardanyan, and Anahit Tchaprasian…Preceding them were Yeva Ambaryan and Varsenik Keshishyan…They have all done a wonderful job at such a young age and I am very proud of their hard work and talents! HyeOozh brings you the best of today's and yesterday's Armenian music: traditional, pop, jazz, folk, rap, etc. And of course it can be a challenge to play all the greats in 3 little hours allotted to HyeOozh, but our goal is to introduce our listeners to the new, as well as keep the old. Armenian music is beautiful and is representative of our culture; therefore it is our duty to keep it alive and on the airwaves. Our children, today's younger generation, must stay Armenian and remember its roots, culture, language, religion, and music: this is one way of making sure that happens.
To DJ is no easy task, especially on live radio. All of our broadcasts are LIVE from KFSR studios, to which we are thankful for this opportunity. We also cannot forget the former Hye Oozh DJs who started all this, we wish them all well. The Hye Oozh Radio Show currently airs on 90.7FM in the city of Fresno, but it also broadcast live on http://www.kfsr.org. We have people who listen to us from all over the world. We greet them with open arms and welcome them to our show. We not only have a huge Armenian following but also a non-Armenian following. A special THANK YOU to Joe Moore and the management at 90.7 KFSR, we would not be here without you! To all the Individuals and Businesses who have donated and helped support Hye Oozh throughout the years, and of course our FANS thank you! This show is for YOU! The Hye Oozh show has faced lots of great international and local publicity and we pray that our listener base grows everyday, so more and more people can join this wonderful experience every week. LET YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY KNOW ABOUT HYE OOZH TOO!
~Sincerely Yours
Tatevik
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| Hye Oozh hosts: Vartush Mesropyan |
 Hello everyone, my name is Vartush Mesropyan! I was born on December 9, 1990 in Yerevan, Armenia. In the year of 1992 my family and I came to the United States. After living in Los Angeles for about eight years in the year 2000 we moved to Fresno, California. As I was growing up in a traditional family I have always been taught to be proud of my culture and believe that there was more to the word Armenian; strength, power, and growth.
I have always been interested in getting involved with my fellow Armenians, especially with a group of people that have the strength and determination to keep the Armenian culture alive. Living in Fresno, I have attended the St. Paul Saturday Armenian School for about six years. The teachers there have taught me always to remain Armenian: not to forget who I am and where I came from.I am actively involved at St. Paul Armenian Apostolic Church. I am a part of the church choir, participate in the morning services, and a member of the Armenian Church Youth Organization. I have realized clubs and church organizations brighten Armenians and unite them together as a team.
In June 2009, I graduated from Bullard High school. Throughout my four years of high school, I was very active in the Armenian club both at Hoover and Bullard High School. With the help of great advisors, I was able to organize club activities, and design Armenian Genocide t-shirts. I am now attending Fresno State University and majoring in nursing. In the future, I want to become a registered nurse in order to contribute to my community and make a difference. Currently, I am apart of the Armenian Students Organization at Fresno State. As a secretary and a member of this organization my gaol is to motivate Armenians to become one and unite them together as a union.
I have completed my first year of volunteering and co-hosting the HyeOozh Radio Show.The HyeOozh Show has been like a big journey and it has taught me a lot of things about who I am. It is a great experience being part of an Armenian radio show because it gives me the courage to express the Armenian language, culture, and pride. Being a DJ gives me the ability to communicate with the audience and understand what they want to hear or how they feel each morning.I have always believed that cultural music has a big impact on our parents; it expresses their feelings and connects them to their childhood with the lyrics. However, the music makes an even bigger impact on young children today, connecting them to the definition of what it means to be Armenian. What I really like about being part of this program is all the excitement we receive from our listeners, our songs and our hearts. It is an amazing feeling to brighten someones' day with the sound of music and hear how much we are appreciated. Yes, at times we face difficulties and confusion, but we are learning and getting even more powerful each time.
A special thank you to Tatevik Ekezian for giving me this opportunity! Thank you for encouraging, supporting and training us week after week to become better hosts. Thank you for teaching us the correct way to speak and gain proper Armenian words. Tatevik is a wonderful person from inside and out. I can't imagine the HyeOozh Show without her; she'll always remain our big sister!!
Sincerely,
Vartush Mesropyan
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| Hye Oozh hosts: Marine Vardanyan |
 Hey! I'm Marine Vardanyan, and I am one of the Hye Oozh DJs! I was born on March 30, 1993 in Yerevan, Armenia and I came to America when I was 6 years old. It was difficult for me and my family to adjust to the new life in America, but having Hye Oozh in Fresno really helped. I am truly thankful to Hye Oozh for being there and giving us a little piece of Armenia in this foreign land. I have lived in Fresno ever since we moved here and I have grown to love it! Although most of my family is still in Armenia, my life here in America is wonderful with my parents, grandparents, and older brother.
My family has done an amazing job in keeping alive the Armenian culture, and I am thankful that I was raised in a family with strong Armenian traditions and values. I am proud to call myself a Hayuhi, or in this case, a Hye-Oozhuhi, because I have always shown my pride in being Armenian, and strived to keep my culture alive. Growing up in Fresno, I attended St. Paul Armenian Saturday School. The teachers at that Saturday school played a major role in my life, making sure I never forgot my Armenian language or knowledge.
Today I am 16 years old, I speak Armenian, Russian, and English, I attend Duncan Polytechnical High School, and I am in the Health Pathway. I plan to attend Fresno State after high school and in the future, become a pediatrician. I am very involved in the Fresno community; I do my best to volunteer, whether it is at Kaiser Permanente hospital, or reading to children in elementary schools. When I learned of the opportunity to join the Hye Oozh hosts, I could not believe it. I had grown up as a child listening to Tatev, never imagining that I would take part in the radio show and actually become a host! This experience is very valuable to me because not only do I have a great time with my friends, but I improve my knowledge on the Armenian language and Armenian entertainment. I am able to provide great music for the Armenians of Fresno, and anyone else who may be listening, and that for me is a huge gift. I am very dedicated, and no matter what, I will never forget my culture and where I come from. Words cannot express how grateful I am for receiving this opportunity from Tatev, and how much it has changed my life. The experiences I have here at the radio will never be forgotten. I would like to give a very big thank-you to Tatevik Ekezian, to our listeners, and to all who have helped Hye Oozh become what we are today.
Lots of love,
Marine Vardanyan
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