YerazArt musical group’s North America tour
-yerazart-musical-group-s-north-america-tour
Publi shed: Monday February 22, 2010
Toronto – The musical group YerazArt performed in Babayian Hall of
Toronto’s Alex Manoogian Cultural Center on October 14, 2009
completing a 10-day tour of North America. Over 300 people attended
the final performance in Toronto.
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.
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.