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PRESS RELEASE

Friday, February 6, 2009

AGBU Grung Choir of Montevideo Celebrates 15 Years & Honors Arsen
Moumdjian

On November 7, 2008, before a sold-out crowd at Toree de las
Telecomunicaciones Auditorium in Montevideo, Uruguay, the AGBU Grung
Choral group of Montevideo presented a two-part show celebrating its
15th anniversary and honoring performer Arsen Moumdjian.

Founded in 1993 with only 12 members, the Grung Choir is composed
entirely of graduates of AGBU Alex Manoogian High School, including the
group’s first director, Alvaro Hagopian. Over the years, Grung has
performed on several of Uruguay’s premier stages and has gained wide
recognition outside the Armenian-Uruguayan community.

At the anniversary show, the choir had over 36 choral members under the
direction of Maestro Hagopian, now also the Director of the Municipal
Philharmonic Orchestra of Montevideo. Grung covered a wide repertoire,
including liturgical, folkloric, classical and melodic songs. Daniel
Levon Magarian conducted the group, while Juan Jose Meghirditchian
accompanied on the piano.

AGBU board member, Gustavo Zulamian, introduced a tribute piece to
renowned artist Arsen Moumdjian halfway through the musical selections.
Photographs and videos displaying various moments of this man’s musical
career and life ran on the big screen while music from the Aram
Khatchaturian Orchestra, which Moumdjian founded and directed, played in
the background. The great Moumdjian then took the stage at the end of
the presentation and played his violin with piano accompaniment by
Maestro Hagopian.

Grung Chairman, Hagop Chamikian, then presented Moumdjian with a
commemorative plate. The program concluded with a selection of a capella
and solo interpretations by various choral members.

For more information on AGBU Montevideo, please visit ,
email ugabuy@montevideo.com.uy, or call the AGBU Alex Manoogian Center,
located in Montevideo, Uruguay at +598.2209.8810.

For more information on AGBU and its worldwide programs, please visit