PRESS RELEASE
February 24, 2005
Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
2225 R Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202-319-1976, x. 348; Fax: 202-319-2982
Email: [email protected]; Web:
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.