SYRIAN MUSICIANS WIN EU-FUNDED RADIO MUSIC AWARD

SANA – Syrian Arab News Agency, Syria
Sept 26 2006

Damascus, (SANA)

Syrian musicians Lena Chamamyan and Basel Rajoub were declared winners
of the first Radio Monte Carlo Moyen-Orient Award in the finals of
the competition at the al-Hussein Cultural Center in Amman, Jordan,
the Delegation of the European Commission in Syria said Tuesday.

In addition to cash prize of EU 6,000, Ms. Lena Chamamyan and Mr.
Basel Rajoub will be in an international promotion campaign through
Radio Monte Carlo Moyen-Orient and its partners.

Lena revealed a passion for music at the age of five. Some years
later she studied eastern classical songs at Aleppo Conservatory, but
she has since explored other styles including Jazz and traditional
Armenian music which have become an integral part of her own very
personal style.

Aleppo-born Basel Rajoub began his musical career playing trumpet
before enrolling at the Conservatory where he studied eastern and
European classical music as well as Jazz. The result is a blend of
rich melodies, his eastern background and Jazz influences, often
featuring an unusual mix of sounds such as piano and brass.

The award is organized by Radio Monte Carlo in partnership with the
European Commission in the framework of the MEDA program to promote
new talents in the Mediterranean basin.