Five years ago, under the initiative of Sergey Smbatyan, the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, the “Music for Future” Foundation was established. In that time, the foundation has achieved impressive milestones: 286 master classes in Armenia and abroad with 98 renowned international musicians, artists, and professors; 233 concert performances worldwide; and 111 invitations to attend concerts of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra. Today, six talented young musicians from the foundation are studying at prestigious institutions around the world, including London, Vienna, Cologne, Karlsruhe, Zurich, and the USA.
In honor of the foundation’s anniversary, Aravot.am spoke with Sergey Smbatyan, who also serves as the Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “These five years have passed in the blink of an eye. We didn’t initially plan to create a foundation—it arose from necessity. We realized we had talented children facing serious educational challenges, and so we decided to help these young musicians thrive in the realities of the 21st century. The goal of the foundation is to teach children how to think, to succeed, and to accomplish their goals quickly,” Smbatyan said.
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Reflecting on his own experiences, Smbatyan shared, “I remember how the right advice and the right environment around a child’s talent can make a huge difference in his life. Despite the many projects I’m involved in, I knew that not having this foundation would be a missed opportunity. Now, I am proud of the significant progress we’ve made—not just emotionally, but also educationally. It’s rewarding to see how society and our international partners view our children’s growth.”
Smbatyan continued, “The idea began with the need for our children to have access to master classes and the expertise of international professors and famous musicians. In just five years, we’ve conducted nearly 300 master classes—an incredible accomplishment. When we noticed that, despite their talent and brilliance, our children struggled with communication during master classes, we decided to address this issue. In the 21st century, being a good musician is about more than just mastering an instrument. It’s about developing a well-rounded personality —visiting museums, attending concerts, and engaging in conversations about success with renowned musicians. These experiences help them clearly define their own path. If we want to cultivate a generation that is talented, communicative, and well-educated in classical music, we must identify and address their challenges.”
During the conversation, the topic of foreign language training for talented young musicians also came up. Sergey Smbatyan mentioned that a dedicated and talented team works within the foundation. While addressing this issue wasn’t their initial goal, it became a challenge that prompted them to adapt and reshape their approach.
“You can’t be a musician in the 21st century without building connections. It’s crucial that we present children with the challenges of the modern world and teach them how to overcome them. I don’t know what the world will look like in five years, but one thing is certain: a person needs the right environment and the right network to succeed. As I mentioned earlier, hosting nearly 300 master classes is an enormous achievement, especially when these include some of Europe’s most famous professors and musicians. When they come to Armenia and learn about our foundation’s work with the Symphony Orchestra, it changes how they see Armenia—and that is a great accomplishment,” Smbatyan emphasized.
“Our talented children are admitted to the best universities, and while it wouldn’t be fair to attribute their success solely to our foundation, it is undeniable that when our scholars join these prestigious institutions, their professors are genuinely excited. This excitement stems from the fact that their talent holds great potential for further development. The fact that children born in Armenia are being admitted to prestigious international universities and representing our country is a success for all of us. It’s our responsibility to do everything we can to support these talented young people. I believe it’s a strategic goal to prepare our children for success on the world stage.”
The ”Music for Future” Foundation, which has thrived for five years, helps shape international perceptions of Armenia. For example, our children participated in the prestigious Järvi Family Festival in Estonia, and I’ve heard feedback that Armenia is seen as a place where children’s education is highly valued, as only the best were selected to attend the festival. In this way, the image of Armenia is shaped through the accomplishments of our children,” Smbatyan added.
Aravot.am asked Sergey Smbatyan whether he manages to find time to talk to his child about music, given his busy schedule in the Symphony Orchestra, his role as a UNICEF ambassador, and the foundation’s activities.
“I don’t even have time to talk with my son,” Smbatyan said with a smile. “But Alexander plays the piano, and I believe a musician is someone who cannot resist the path of becoming a musician. I see that passion in him. Many things come more easily to him now than they did to me at his age. I’m closely watching his development, and while I’m adamantly against pushing him, I would be delighted if his teachers and family continue to encourage him,” Smbatyan shared.
Returning to the foundation, he added, “The foundation established under the motto “Music for Future”. We believe that our implemented projects allow talented children to travel abroad and spend time with renowned musicians, which transforms their mindset and lifestyle. In other words, charity that focuses on the future becomes an investment.
In today’s fast-evolving world, discussing young classical musicians is a major achievement. I want to see our children perform on the world’s biggest stages. And if you walk through Vienna in 10 years and see Armenian musicians’ names on the billboards, I’m confident that those musicians will have a connection to our foundation. I am grateful to all the supporters and visionaries who have united around this mission.”
Gohar HAKOBYAN
Photos courtesy of the “Music for Future” Foundation
