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Armenian music is a rich tapestry of sounds and stories rooted in a deep history and presence and interpreted in various formats. Our Musical Armenia Program (MAP) invites you on a journey to explore a culture full of contrasts: old and new, traditional and avant-garde, east and west.
Musicians of All Heritages and Levels Welcome
Our program features 10-days of immersive exploration in Armenia with prominent Armenian musicians and musicologists, as well as concerts, collaborations and tours to offer a deeper understanding of the diversity and importance of Armenian music and culture. From folk to contemporary, liturgical to jazz, classical to blues - experience the many faces, personalities, rhythms and notes through this one-of-a-kind experience.
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View list of 2023 instructors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Program Inquiries
Of course! MAP is open to musicians and music lovers of all heritages and backgrounds. We are so proud of our Armenian culture that we want to share it with everyone who is interested.
Each participant is paired with a teacher based on his or her level of musicianship and style (that’s why we ask a video or recording of you performing). Your one-on-one lessons are tailor-made for you to help you improve as much as possible during our program.
Yes, MAP participants can take one-on-one lessons in their instrument of choice, voice, composition, conducting, etc., or a combination. However, we don’t recommend that you choose more than two, that way you’re able to get do in-depth work with your teacher and make progress during MAP.
The lectures will take place at our AGBU Yerevan offices, located at 2 2 Melik Adamyan St, Yerevan, just off Republic Square in downtown Yerevan. One-on-one lessons with instructors will take place at the Tchaikovsky Music School at 36 Yeznik Koghabatsi Street, also in downtown Yerevan and less than a 15-minute walk from AGBU Yerevan.
Travel and Accommodations
Our program begins on July 3rd and our final day is July 14th.
Participants staying at our AGBU Vahe Karapetian Center should plan on arriving in Yerevan on July 2nd and departing on July 15th, and AGBU will coordinate picking you up and dropping you off at Zvartnots International Airport.
Participants choosing to find their own accommodations can plan on arriving as far in advance and staying in Yerevan as long as they want! But they will have to arrange their own transportation to/from Zvartnots Airport.
AGBU owns and maintains its own private facility just outside the delightful city center. The AGBU Vahe Karapetian Center is a spacious, state-of-the-art, fully furnished multi-purpose facility for international youth who have traveled for AGBU activities.
Accommodation features include shared bedrooms (2 to 3 people per room), a communal kitchen & indoor entertainment space including a library, chess room, game room, and TV room. The space also boasts a comfortable outdoor entertainment space. Services include daily breakfast, Wi-Fi, free laundry and cleaning service and a 24/7 building security guard.
The program maintains a reasonable curfew for the safety of the group.
Most nationalities do not need a visa to enter Armenia, although there are some exceptions. If necessary, though, obtaining a visa or an e-visa is quick, simple and quite inexpensive. For more information, and to see if you would need a visa, visit https://www.mfa.am/en/visa/
If you’re an instrumentalist (i.e. violin, trumpet, flute, etc.), don’t forget your instrument! And be ready for the Yerevan summer: temperatures can get high, so pack shorts, t-shirts, and a bathing suit just in case. And be sure to have clothes for going out at night, there will be plenty of laid-back group meals, concert going, rooftop bars, and of course our end of the program Gala Concert.
Tuition and Fees
The program includes 5 lectures on the history of Armenian music at our AGBU Yerevan offices, 5 one-on-one lessons with Armenia's top musicians on your instrument of choice at the Tchaikovsky Music School, tours and outings to museums and cultural sites, exclusive networking opportunities, and our end of the program Gala Concert at AGBU Yerevan.
Select group meals and transport to/from group activities will be included.
For those staying at the AGBU Vahe Karapetian Center, breakfast and laundry is also included (see more details above).
You should plan on bringing spending money during the program. Yerevan is a fairly inexpensive city, for example cab rides run around $3 USD. You will need to cover some meals, evening outings and of course souvenirs shopping to bring a piece of Armenia back home – we will be going to the vernissage, after all!
Connect with us at musicalarmenia@agbu.org
