"Small Step" international music festival presentation and concert of "Hayos Band" vocal and instrumental ensemble of Armenian Diocese in Georgia

On April 13, 2024, the organizers of the "Small Step" international music festival from Etchmiadzin, RA were hosted at the "Hayartun" Educational, Cultural and Youth Center of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia. The purpose of the visit was to inform Georgian music organizations about the music festival to be held in Etchmazdin, RA, in June this year. David Ter-Mkrtchyan, Cultural Advisor of RA Embassy in Georgia attended the presentation.

The co-founders of the festival, Artyom Harutyunyan, Artur Gazaryan and Vardan Torosyan, presented in detail the purpose of the festival, the criteria of participation and the willingness to present Georgian musical culture in Armenia. According to the co-founders and members of the organizing group, the festival is held for the second year under the auspices of the RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports and with the support of Etchmiadzin Municipality. More than 1,800 applicants have already applied for participation. The guests expressed their gratitude to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Georgia Mr. Ashot Smbatyan, Primate of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, His Grace Bishop Kirakos Davtyan and Head of "Hayartun" Center Eugenia Markosyan for their support and hospitality.

Anna Tabatadze from Aram Khachatryan Music School N10 in Tbilisi, Tinatin Tsagareli from Aloyez Mizandari School N1, Giorgi Kordzadze from Evgeni Mikeladze Central Music Organization and others who were present at the presentation, touched upon the friendly relations and collaboration between Armenian and Georgian musical fields years ago, valued the necessity of reviving the events and expressed their willingness to participate in these relations, to support their development and deepening.

The presentation continued with a cozy concert by the "Hayos Band" vocal and instrumental ensemble of the "Hayartun" Center of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia. With its beautiful, multilingual and high-level of performance the band was warmly welcomed and received hearty applause from the audience. It’s worth mentioning that the work done by the ensemble's artistic director Vladimir Asaturov, the performances of soloists Liza Akopova, Sofia Oganezyan, as well as performances of Karo Samvelyan, Arman Papikyan, Alex and Anri Akopyans on different instruments were highly appreciated.