The “Komitas Vardapet” Pan-Armenian Music Festival, organized under patronage of the Ministry of Diaspora of Republic of Armenia since 2013, was held under the slogan “Let’s sing Komitas”. The choirs of the Hayartun Center of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, repertoire of which undoubtedly includes sensational songs of Komitas, have always participated in this festival with distinguished sense of responsibility and devotion.

In 2015 Armenian Diocese in Georgia participated in a festival, represented by the Nerses Shnorhali choir of the Hayartun Center (Director - Levon Chidilyan) and the Agbyur Youth Choir of the Aleksandre Mantashoff Cultural Center in Batumi (led by Sona Hovhannisyan). The choirs joined with a performance at the grand opening concert held on September 25 in Yerevan Chamber Music Hall after Komitas.

The next day, on September 26, the choirs were hosted in the Vardablur village of Lori region, where Komitas Vardapet composed his famous “Horovel of Lori”, to perform songs of the prominent author. In the evening they also performed in Vanadzor #1 Musical School after Shara Talyan. The Nerses Shnorhali Choir of the Hayartun Center was honored to open the concert and present “Hoy Nazan, im Nazani” (director: Mari Aboulyan, piano: Karen Mirzoyan). Well deserved, the Georgian-Armenian choirs were in the center of organizers’ attention. The closing of the “Let’s Sing Komitas” festival was marked with Nerses Shnorhali choir’s performance of “Sareri Hovin Mernem” song, accompanied by duduk ensemble, directed by Ivane Mkrtchyan.

A film on Komitas Vardapet’s biography, accompanied by his photos and his voice, was presented during the festival. The closing of the festival was delegated to the State Academic Choir of Armenia, directed by principal conductor Hovhannes Tchekidjian, prominent USSR National Artist and holder of various state awards. Deputy Minister of Diaspora Issues, Mr. Serj Srapionyan, closed the festival with a speech on behalf of Minister Hranoush Hakobyan, as well as awarded certificates to participating choirs and individual performers.

The Aghbyur choir of Batumi Cultural and Youth Center after Aleksandre Mantashoff (conducted by Rouzanna Ovanesyan), blessed by the spiritual shepherd of the St. Savior Church in Batumi, Rev. Fr. Ararat Ghambalyan, performed in Yerevan Music School named after Armen Tigranyan on September 28. Deputy Head of the Shengavit Community and Director of the Education, Sport and Culture department of the Shengavit Community were also present at the performance.

The “Let’s Sing Komitas” Music Festival was not limited with concerts only: participants of the festival, including choirs of the Armenian Diocese in Georgia, visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum, medieval Zvartnots Complex and Saint Hripsime Church, as well as, attended the Sunday Divine Liturgy in the Mother See of Holy Echimadzin.

Filled with bright impressions after the Pan-Armenian Music Festival and skillful performances of Komitas songs, young performers returned back to Georgia, motivated to explore more Komitas art and equipped with new friends.