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PRESS RELEASE

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Musical Group YerazArt Performs in Toronto During North American Tour

On October 14, 2009, the musical group YerazArt performed in Babayian
Hall of Toronto’s Alex Manoogian Cultural Center, finishing up its
10-day tour of North America. AGBU had extended a special invitation to
YerazArt, made up of young performers from Armenia, to give concerts
around the United States and Canada in honor of Armenian Cultural Month.
In addition to Toronto, the group performed in a number of other cities
with Armenian communities, including Montreal, Boston, San Francisco,
Fresno, and Boca Raton. Over 300 people attended the final performance
in Toronto.

AGBU Toronto’s executive director, Salpi Der Ghazarian, gave the opening
remarks, welcoming the enthusiastic audience and addressing the
importance and impact the arts have on Armenian culture. "Armenians need
art as much as bread, water and air, and they also feel the need to
compose, create and present their work as art and music to Armenians and
non-Armenians alike," she said. Apo Ashjian, director of YerazArt’s
tour, also spoke, explaining the background and organization of the
musical group.

Out of 450 candidates eager to be a part of YerazArt, the following six
were selected: 17-year-old pianist Hripsime Aghakarian, 16-year-old
soprano Maneh Kaloyian, 16-year-old duduk player Norayr Kapoyian,
22-year-old oboist Maneh Harutiunian, 18-year-old violinist Hrayr
Karapetian, and 15-year-old cellist Haik Sukiasian. These young
musicians have participated in various national festivals and
competitions, such as the Spendiaryan National Competition Festival, the
Arno Babadjanian and G. Saradjyan national piano competitions, Aram
Khachatryan Vocal Competition, National Folk Instruments Competition
Festival, Avet Gabrielyan and Sargis Aslamazyan VII National String
Competition, as well as the "Revival" International Music Festival and
Competition in Gyumri, and have won major prizes and awards.

The Toronto performance included pieces from Arno Babajanyan, Edward
Baghdasarian, Komitas, Beethoven, Charles Colin, Aleksandr Harutiunian,
Sayat-Nova, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Aleksandr Spendiarian, and Henryk
Wieniawski. Each of the musicians displayed their impressive talents
throughout the concert, both individually and collectively, creating a
memorable event for all in attendance. The YerazArt musicians, now back
in Armenia, hope to return for more performances in North America.

Established in 1906, AGBU () is the world’s largest
non-profit Armenian organization. Headquartered in New York City, AGBU
preserves and promotes the Armenian identity and heritage through
educational, cultural and humanitarian program, annually touching the
lives of some 400,000 Armenians around the world.

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