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PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, January 13, 2004
AGBU-SUPPORTED KARABAKH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA PERFORMS FIRST OFFICIAL
CONCERT
New York, NY – Last month, the AGBU-funded Karabakh Chamber Orchestra
(KCO) presented its first official concert in Stepanakert, the capital
of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh. Performing along with the State
Choir of Karabakh, the December 10, 2004 event was a landmark occasion
for the three-month old orchestra.
Gevork Muradian, Artistic Director and Conductor of KCO, traveled to
Stepanakert with a dozen musicians from Yerevan in September 2004 to
form the ensemble. Including several graduates of the Karabakh music
college among their ranks, the KCO began rehearsals on September 10th.
“After a month’s rehearsals the first performance took place on
October 8 in Stepanakert on the occasion of the 83rd General Assembly
of AGBU. Karabakh President and high-ranking officials attended the
concert. We were very warmly and enthusiastically received by the
people of Karabakh, which means that classical music has its audience
in Karabakh. Moreover, people were approaching our musicians after the
concert asking them to listen to their children’s musical abilities
and teach them. Two violinists and one violist already teach in the
music school of Shushi. New classes of viola and cello will be opened
in the Stepanakert musical college next year,” Muradian explained to
Armenia’s Aravot daily in a December 3rd interview.
Muradian elaborated that, in addition to AGBU funds, KCO receives
support from the Karabakh government. In the spring, KCO will travel
to Yerevan to perform in the Armenian capital and later to various
regions of Armenia for additional concerts.
Established in 1906, AGBU () is the largest Armenian
non-profit organization in the world and has been at the forefront of
promoting and preserving the Armenian heritage around the world. In
addition to the KCO, AGBU also financially supports the Armenian
Philharmonic Orchestra.