SOAD’s Serj Tankian composes special track for Aurora Prize

PanARMENIAN.Net - Prominent musician and political activist Serj Tankian has composed a special track, “Aurora’s Dream” to serve as the theme music for the upcoming inaugural Aurora Prize ceremony to be held in Yerevan, Armenia on April 24, the website of the Aurora Prize said.

The Aurora Prize was born of the 100 LIVES initiative, which is rooted in the inspiring stories of courage and survival during the Armenian Genocide one hundred years ago.

The subject is dear to Serj’s heart as Tankian’s own family would not have survived without the American missionaries who ran the orphanage in which his grandfather was raised. Tankian’s maternal grandmother Varsenig survived the massacres thanks to the bravery of a Turkish mayor, who put his life on the line to hide her and her family. This righteous Turkish citizen refused to carry out the government’s orders to kill or deport Armenians; many who undertook similar acts of selflessness at this time were executed by the Ottoman government for defying authority.

Commenting on the release of the new song, Serj Tankian said, “Of all the tracks I’ve composed and produced over the last few years, “Aurora’s Dream” is my favorite. I’m glad it was for the Aurora Prize and 100 LIVES initiative – an organization doing wonderful things by bringing attention to devastating tragedies and the real heroes that rise to the occasion.”

100 LIVES is a new global initiative rooted in the events of the Armenian Genocide, during which 1.5 million Armenians perished. The fortunate few were saved by the courageous and heroic acts of individuals and institutions. A century later, 100 LIVES seeks to express gratitude, to share remarkable stories of survivors and their saviors, and to celebrate the strength of the human spirit.

On behalf of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide and in gratitude to their saviors, an Aurora Prize Laureate will be honored each year with a US$100,000 grant as well as the unique opportunity to continue the cycle of giving by nominating organizations that inspired their work for a US$1,000,000 award. Recipients will be recognized for the exceptional impact their actions have made on preserving human life and advancing humanitarian causes.