BEATING THE BOYS AT THEIR OWN GAME

Northern District Times (Australia)
September 12, 2007 Wednesday

NARA Virabyan has a rare talent in her mastery of the dhol, an
instrument that is mainly a male domain.

The dhol is a drum with a cylinder-shaped body and one or two membrane
covers.

It is one of the many percussion instruments popular and widely played
in Armenia.

Nara migrated to Australia in 1994 from Armenia, where she had learned
from a young age to play music and sing.

She hails from a musically talented family, including an older brother
who taught her how to play the dhol when she was just eight.

She performed in his band from age nine and was playing professionally
by her teens.

In Australia, Nara’s talent is widely recognised, playing with a
variety of bands from different cultural backgrounds, including Greek,
Russian and Lebanese.

Nara is also a member of the popular local group, the Yerevan Band.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress