29 October 2019

On October 16, in Yerevan, AGBU Armenia hosted the opening concert of the programme AGBU Discovers Talents organized in partnership with AGBU France, in the presence of representatives of the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra and the Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan.

On October 17 & 18, the competition of the programme took place at AGBU Armenia Hall with international jury members Christian Erbslöh-Papazian (Germany/France), Nadia Gortzounian (France), Sevak Avanesyan (Belgium), Lilit Kurdiyan (USA), Hrachya Avanesyan (Belgium), Aram Talayan (Armenia), Karmen Tosunyan (Armenia), Andreï Gridchuk (Russia) and Ursula Von Lerber (Finland/Switzerland). 

Grand Prizes were awarded to 4 categories: children under eleven, children between 11 and 15, youngsters between 16 and 20 and adults between 21 and 25. The winners David Babayan and Mari Hakobyan, Mikayel Karakhanyan, Artyom Yoanisyan and Feliks Harutyunyan will perform as soloists in a concert with the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra scheduled to take place in February 2020 at the Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall in Yerevan.

Thanks to the funds raised in part during AGBU Musical Weekend in Brussels last May, the AGBU Performing Arts Department of France, in partnership with Musicians for Musicians led by cellist Sevak Avanesyan, was able to lend high-quality professional instruments to a selected number of promising musicians. Five violins and five cellos originally made in Germany and France will allow these musicians to practice and perform on international stages for a one year term.

On October 20 & 21, the jury members of the competition traveled to Gyumri and gave Masterclasses at the local branch of the Komitas Conservatory.   

Watch a TV presentation of the event by the organizers on Aravot Luso

Watch the TV report by SHOGHAKAT