State Trio of Armenia Performs in Washington, DC

On February 18, 2005, World Children’s Transplant Fund/Yerevan Chair, under the auspices of the Embassy of Armenia held a charitable concert in the Austrian Embassy Concert Hall in Washington, DC.

The concert featured the internationally acclaimed State Trio of Armenia, comprised of Lilit Zakarian (violin), Shushan Hakobyan (piano), and Vahan Grigoryan (Cello). The Austrian Embassy in Washington, D.C. has graciously provided its Concert Hall to this worthy cause, as part of long-standing cooperation between the Embassies of Armenia and Austria.

The State Trio of Armenia traveled to Washington, D.C for the exclusive performance at this charitable event. In addition to being laureates and winners of several international music competitions in Austria, Italy, Russia, Lebanon and Ukraine the State Trio of Armenia has become the First Prize winner in the prestigious Pierre Lantier Competition in Paris in 2001. The Trio has toured the United States in 1998-1999, performing in Washington, D.C, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Providence, R.I. On April 25, 1999, the group performed at the Armenian Embassy in Washington at a special event honoring Armenian President Robert Kocharian, in Washington for the NATO 50th Anniversary Summit.

During February 18th Concert the Trio performed Sergei Rachmaninov, Arno Babajanian and Astor Piazolla’s pieces.

The charitable concert at the Austrian Embassy was organized by World Children’s Transplant Fund/Yerevan Chair. The Fund established its presence in Armenia in 2001, and to date has successfully helped two Armenian children in need of eye transplants. The Founder and Chairman of WCTF Mr. Mark Kroeker and Vice-President of the Fund Valerie McCaffrey flew from opposite parts of the country, New York and Los Angeles to participate on this event and support Maria Yeganian, Executive Director of Yerevan Chair, who organized the event.

The Concert has gathered representatives of the Armenian Community, U.S. administration, World Bank and Diplomatic Community of Washington, DC. All proceeds from the February 18 concert will benefit the children in Armenia in need of life-saving organ transplants.