SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA IS A PRIORITY

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR)
06 Oct 04

On September 30 the art director and conductor of the Artsakh
Symphonic Orchestra Gevorg Muradian gave a press conference for the
local and foreignmass media. The problems and aims of the orchestra
were also presented by concertmaster Ashot Jenterejian and the
director of the orchestra Simon Sarghissian. Gevorg Muradian pointed
out that the arrival of the 12 musicians from Yerevan does not pursue
mercantile aims. The aim is to create a strong and integrated team,
and also establish a quality school of violin (if possible also alt
and cello) in Artsakh. `That our ideas, problems and aims were
approvedand assisted by the NKR government and the Armenian General
Benevolent Union is the evidence to the fact that the creation of the
state symphonic orchestra is of national importance.’ The conductor of
the orchestra believes that the mass media can contribute to this
undertaking by covering the activity of the orchestra not only in
Artsakh but also in Armenia and the Diaspora. `If the orchestra is to
make achievements, these should be displayed to public, as we consider
thisto have a political context as well,’ said Gevorg Muradian. In
reference to the establishment of the school of violin in Artsakh
Ashot Jenterejian emphasized that these two years (the term of the
contracts of the musicians) are not enough for such an important
process which will take at least 5-6 years. Mr. Jenterejian said that
three musicians already work at the Shoushi Music School after
D. Ghazarian. Gevorg Muradian said that as distinct of the Shoushi
Music School the music schools of Stepanakert did not apply to
them. The conductor has not met yet with the director of the musical
college to decide on the worksof the musicians from Yerevan. In
reference to the local musicians, Mr. Jenterejian did not hide that
there are problems with them, mainly of professional character which
will be solved by all means. According to him, these are purely the
problems of the experienced musicians and they are ready to do their
best for overcoming similar difficulties. In reference to the question
of how the problem of musicians will be solved after the expiry of the
two-year contract, the concertmaster and the conductor mentioned that
the problem may be solved through cooperation of the both ministries
of culture, by either alternative military service, or arrangement
between the ministries and the conservatoire of Yerevan to send
graduates of the conservatoire to work in the orchestra.

SUSANNA BALAYAN.
06-10-2004