The Varanda Children's and Junior Youth Choir of Shushi on September 4 held a concert in the city’s State Museum of Art, the Stepanakert newspaper Aparaj reports.
The choir’s conductor and creative director, Zakar Keshishian, said that the concert was dedicated to the one-hundredth anniversary of first Armenian republic, the 30th anniversary of the Karabakh movement, the 2800th anniversary of Yerevan’s founding, and Hamazkayin’s 90th anniversary.
“I had come here so I too could light a candle, I too could lay a foundation stone, I too could bring about a smile, put a song on the lips of children living in war,” said Mr. Zakarian, who has worked with the choir since he founded it in 1992. “I was able to do all this thanks to over 700 old and new students. My creative journey with them will continue for as long as I am needed.”
The program included old and new songs. In many instances, the composers had dedicated the songs to the choir.
The author of 64 of the group’s songs, Yuri Sahakyan, who just celebrated his 80th birthday, was awarded the title of “Distinguished Artist” by the president of the Republic of Artsakh. The certificate was given to Mr. Sahakyan’s son by the minister of culture, youth affairs, and tourism of Artsakh, Lernik Hovhannisyan.
At the end of the concert, to mark Zakar Keshishian’s 50th birthday, elected officials, members of the choir, and members of the audience made congratulatory speeches and gave gifts.