What is the heritage of both Maro Ajemian and Armen Chakmakian?
Maro Ajemian Maro Ajemian (July 9, 1921 – September 18, 1978) was an American pianist. Ajemian's career in contemporary music got its impetus from her Armenian heritage; she became known as a contemporary pianist after performing the U.S. premiere of Aram Khachaturian's Piano Concerto, which she chose to play based on the fact that Khachaturian was Armenian.
Maria Jacobsen Maria Jacobsen (November 6, 1882 – April 6, 1960) was a Danish missionary and a key witness to the Armenian Genocide. Jacobsen wrote the "Diaries of a Danish Missionary: Harpoot, 1907–1919", which according to Armenian Genocide scholar Ara Sarafian, is a "documentation of the utmost significance" for research of the Armenian Genocide. For her humanitarian efforts, Jacobsen is known as "Mayrik" (Armenian: mother) or "Mama" for having saved many Armenians during the Genocide.