“Yntaniq Center”: Open-Air Concert Dedicated to International Music Day

“National music is a measure of greatness; the greater the music, the greater the nation.”
— Komitas

On October 23, the “Yntaniq” Children and Youth Creative Center under the Ministry of Education and Science held a concert entitled “Melody,” dedicated to International Music Day. The event aimed to introduce the audience to Komitas, a pioneer of Armenian musical art, highlight the duduk as a national musical instrument, develop the students’ musical appreciation, and contribute to their professional growth and improvement of their performance skills.

The concert, featuring students from the Center’s Ethnographic Song and Dance and Duduk groups, was unique and impressive. The audience was delighted by the joint musical and dance performances prepared by the different groups. The Ethnographic Song group performed several of the great Komitas’s folk songs and inspiring military-patriotic songs; the Dance group presented traditional Armenian dances and impressive choreographies; while the Duduk group performed the soulful melodies of this beloved and ancient musical instrument.

The dance performance accompanied by the song “April to Live” made a particularly strong impression on the audience, expressing the indomitable spirit of the Armenian people and the power of faith. The event concluded with a performance of the song “Live in Peace,” which served as a heartfelt appeal from the participating students to live in harmony and friendship with all nations.

At the end of the event, A. Minasyan, Director of the “Yntaniq” Center, presented a surprise to Angela Papikyan, a student of the Painting group. In April 2017, Angela’s artwork won first place in the 12-year-old age category at the 19th International Exhibition “Children of the World” held in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The diploma she received was presented to her by the Center’s director.

The event once again demonstrated that, as bearers of an ancient cultural heritage, we have a moral responsibility to preserve it and pass it on to future generations.

H. Sargsyan