By Adonia Agayan

YEREVAN, July 19 — The long-awaited first concert of Armenia-Turkey Youth Philharmonic Orchestra was finally held on July 16 in Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall, Istanbul. Sixty-five Armenian and Turkish musicians between the ages of 18-23 took part in it.

The idea of this concert belongs to Nvard Andreasyan, an Istanbul-based Armenian conductor, and the concert was held due to the assistance of “Anatolian culture” social organization, the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Art and the Bogazici University.

Young musicians, selected from conservatories throughout Turkey and Armenia, passed 12 very pleasant days together, learning more about their respective countries’ histories and people.

A 19-year-old flutist from Ankara said that once the ice of the first days had broken, all the young musicians became very good friends, exchanging experiences and teaching each other their mother tongues.

Unç, a 23-year-old contrabass player said, “We realized that everything is just a matter of politics and that there are no barriers among young people.” He then added that he could define this concert as a step forward that the two sister-countries have taken together.

Manuel and Aravni Pamokdijan, an Armenian couple, grandparents of seven nephews and nieces from the Armenian diaspora in France, told that they had been extremely touched by the concert, after seeing all those young people’s wonderful performances on the violin, cello and all the other instruments.

“We will bring this to Yerevan,” Manuel said, adding that they wished things would keep advancing positively. Although there is still much to do, the concert was a great step.

World classical compositions by Bach, Beethoven, Georges Bizet and Aram Khachaturian were performed at the concert.

The Turkish Armenian Youth Orchestra is planning another concert in Armenia for the autumn.

Yerevan Report