The essential objective of the “Gagarin” music program is to provide more than 120 students from rural settlements such as Ddmashen, Tsaghkunk, Zovaber, Geghamavan, and town Gagarin with musical education.

The program offers a variety of activities, including choral, instrumental, ethnographic, and dance sessions, cultural concerts, and ritual ceremonies, thereby fostering a vibrant musical milieu within a community. 

With sufficient funds raised through fundraising, we will be able to continue the music program of the “Gagarin Project” and also accept new admissions.

The program appealed to the head of the Sevan community to turn the partially used Ddmashen Cultural House into a center for the program through the joint efforts of the program beneficiaries.  

This program is initiated by the "Dar" Foundation, with a board of trustees composed of eminent musicians overseeing its execution by expert musicians. The professional music lessons are conducted in Ddmashen secondary school. This project functions as a subsidiary of the “Tsaghkunk Open School” foundation, utilizing the construction resources of the Gagarin cluster. Through financial aid from the Sevan Community and reArmenia fundraising allocation, the program will ensure its continuity and expansion. 

IMPACT:

Currently, 29 enrolled children are learning violin, piano, and cello lessons, 55 attend choir sessions, and 60 participate in ethnographic dances. 

The students’ first performance took place on January 13th in the Tsakhkunk secondary school auditorium. The concert featured choirs, the newly formed chamber orchestra, and professional instrumental ensembles.

On February 14th, 2024, the program conducted its first ritual ceremony, “Ddmagovkov Tearnandaraj.” This is bound to have an impact on other spheres of communal life.

CHALLENGE:

The enthusiastic response from families verifies the importance of filling the cultural void in the rural population and enriching the life of the community through accessible and through accessible and reliable opportunities provided by this program.

SOLUTION:

 Children attending the lessons are provided with safe and convenient transportation, which takes them to the program within 10-15 minutes. The program has a board of trustees consisting of prominent musicians from the music school and the head of the program, who select highly qualified practicing musicians on a competitive basis. 

In Ddmashen there is a Teacher's House that belongs to the program and is used by the specialists of the program. Additionally, the program has access to the school auditorium in Tsaghkunk. Within the framework of the program, monthly concert meetings are organized in the auditorium, featuring famous music groups and musicians. The expansion of the program aims to transform the public school halls of the Gagarin cluster into concert (philharmonic) halls, beginning from the Ddmashen school.

 The program offers musical instruments to children who are in need.

TEAM: 

1. The music program has a board of trustees consisting of:

Hasmik Papyan - an Armenian opera singer, People’s Artist of Armenia, and the artistic director of Saryan Opera Studio of Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory.

Ashot Bleyan - the founder of “Mkhitar Sebastatsi Educational Complex,” educational mentor of “Gagarin project.”

Artur Shahnazaryan - an Armenian songwriter, composer, Komitasologist, and artistic director of the ethnographic ensemble “Akunk” after M. Muradyan.

Vahan Artsruni - a composer, singer, and musician.

Artyom Naghdyan - a cellist, and director of the Armenian National Philharmonic Orchestra.

Margarita Gevorgyan - the director of the “Dar” Regional Development and Competitiveness Foundation. 

Zhanna Sargsyan- director of Ddmashen public school, member of Sevan community council.

2. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION TEAM

Lilit Balabekyan - the head of the project 

Meri Mkrtchyan - the assistant 

EDUCATORS

Arusyak Mkrtchyan - a pianist 

Anush Israelyan - a pianist 

Lusine Manukyan - choir accompanist 

Arman Grigoryan - violinist, orchestra conductor 

Ani Balyan - a violinist

Arevik Galyan - a cellist

Anna Grigoryan - a specialist in solfeggio and music literature

Davit Sargsyan - a group leader 

Lusine Harutyunyan- choreographer, ethnographer

This project supports:

Sustainable Development Goals