Letters of Last Hopes
Firsthand accounts of the Hamidian Massacres through desperate letters to Khrimian Hayrig
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June 22, 2010
Renaissance International Festival Takes Place in Gyumri, Dedicated to the 95th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
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Performers at the Renaissance International Festival in Gyumri, Armenia.
The second annual Renaissance International Festival took place in the historic center of Gyumri from May 5-13, 2010. The weeklong festival, which symbolizes the cultural rebirth of Gyumri, brought together more than 1,000 musical performers from Armenia, NKR, Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, China, France, Egypt, Iran, and Cyprus, all between the ages of 8-28. This year's festival was held under the sponsorship and financial support of Pyunik All-Armenian Fund for Human Resources Development, South-Caucasian Railways JSC, Electric Networks of Armenia, and the Armenian General Benevolent Union. It was held as part of UNESCO's "International Year of Rapprochement of Cultures" and was dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
The opening ceremony took place in the V. Atjemian Drama Theater of Gyumri. The "Lord's Prayer" was performed by the Armenian State Academic Orchestra, under the direction of Maestro Hovaness Chekijian. Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II also gave a reading and his words of blessing. The festival was held under the high patronage of the First Lady of the Republic of Armenia, Rita Sargsyan. A welcoming message to all participants and guests was sent by AGBU President Berge Setrakian.
Numerous activities went on throughout the week, including classes, tours, meetings, and jubilee gatherings dedicated to notable events and prominent individuals. A two-day conference entitled "Armenia and World Culture" took place, comprised of prominent scholars, scientists, professors, and academics from Armenia and abroad. Participating musicians also took part in a competition, divided into six musical categories: piano, string instruments, wind instruments, academic singing, Armenian national instruments, and Armenian national singing. The festival's jury was made up of dignitaries, including, amongst others, Medea Abrahamian (Armenia), Ernst Arakelov (Georgia), Vladimir Dulov (Belarus), Alexander Garber (Georgia), Raffi Kharajanian (Latvia), Sergey Matsoyan (Ukraine), and Lina Najkyaline (Lithuania). During the closing ceremony, winners of each category were awarded. Final prizes went to: Yekaterina Gagnidze (piano, Georgia), Harutyun Khachatrian (wind instruments, Gyumri), Karen Khachatrian (Armenian national singing, Karabakh), Arsen Mirzoyan (Armenian national instruments, Yerevan), Lala Mouradian (academic singing, Gyumri), and Lizi Ramishvili (string instruments, Georgia). Runner-ups received titles of laureate and diplomas. The jury also awarded special prizes to individual participants.
The Republic of Armenia Ministry of Culture, Republic of Armenia Ministry of Education and Science, Pyunik All-Armenian Fund for Human Resources Development, the Gyumri branch of the Yerevan State Komitas Conservatory, and the Shirak Benevolent Fund all worked together to organize the event. Levon Sargsyan, President of the Pyunik All-Armenian Fund and Head of the Yerevan State University Chair of History of Armenian Church, and Karine Avdalian, Director of the Gyumri branch of the Yerevan State Komitas Conservatory and Founder of the Renaissance Festival, were the co-chairs of the festival.
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