On June 18, participants of the “Born in Artsakh” educational program performed alongside the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra under the baton of its Founding Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, Maestro Sergey Smbatyan, in a concert dedicated to the memory of renowned philanthropist and musician Edward Avedisian.
Ed Avedisian was an artist whose life and creative journey were shaped by displacement and transformation. His story and his music remind us how art can serve as a force of hope, identity, and resilience. Through his life, he demonstrated that even in the face of great adversity, one can hold on to music, and to self.
It was deeply symbolic that under the light of his memory, two talented “Born in Artsakh” participants, Gevorg Petrosyan (clarinet) and Arsen Safaryan (trumpet), took the stage. Their performance was more than a musical appearance, it was a powerful first step back into their artistic journeys, a testament that displacement cannot silence a voice when there is support, purpose, and the opportunity to create. And the “Born in Artsakh” program gives life to these voices. It replaces silence and loss with access to education, artistic growth, and platforms for expression. It helps these young people believe in their potential again – to reclaim their stories through the transformative power of music.
For Gevorg and Arsen, this performance marked a new beginning; the chance for a new generation to present itself to the world not as victims, but as creators, thinkers, and musicians. And that is why, as we honor Edward Avedisian’s memory, we also look to the future, one in which the phrase “Born in Artsakh” becomes a lasting symbol of memory, strength, and rediscovered voice.
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“Born in Artsakh” educational program is dedicated to preserving and nurturing the cultural and musical heritage of young musicians born in Artsakh who now live in Armenia. Initiated by Sergey Smbatyan, UNICEF National Ambassador and Artistic Director of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, the program supports 23 talented youth displaced in 2023 through a comprehensive 5-year professional music education track. The aim is to provide them with long-term support, artistic development, and opportunities to take the stage around the world, carrying with them the powerful message: “Born in Artsakh.”
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The program is implemented with the financial support of the “We Are Our Mountains” Development Agency, Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, the Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) Armenia, and generous individual donors Yuri Navoyan, Karo Sarkisian, and Hayk Yeganyan.
“Born in Artsakh” Project
