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Lilia and Alexandra Yaralian, first-year doctoral students in Musicology, were invited by the Embassy of Armenia in Washington, D.C. to perform in celebration of the 33rd anniversary of the second independence of the Republic of Armenia. Hosted by H.E. Lilit Makunts, the Ambassador of the Republic of Armenia to the United States of America, the event held on September 16 at the distinguished University Club of Washington, D.C., was attended by leading members of the D.C. Armenian community, members of congress, senators, and ambassadors including H.E. Ekaterini Nassika, the Ambassador of Greece to the United States of America, Congressman Jim Costa, and Deputy Administrator for USAID Isobel Coleman.
Lilia and Alexandra opened the event by singing the “The Star-Spangled Banner” and the Armenian national anthem, followed by a repertoire from Armenian composers Komitas Vardapet and Khachatur Avetisyan arranged specifically for their instrument, the kanon (qanun), a 72-stringed zither played throughout the Middle East. Their performance was a memorable contribution to a night filled with Armenian pride and cultural heritage.