Grinding Wheat in Artsakh With Friends
Point of View
A Note on the Enchantment of the Beverly Hills International Music Festival and the artists’ meaningful …Everyone who attended could not help but feel the connection to the spirit of shared humanity that binds us all, regardless of who we are and where we come from.
The first concert on April 24 was deeply moving tribute featuring the Shell Piano Trio with pianist, the founder of the Trio, Shushana Hakobyan, violinist Lilit Zakaryan, and cellist Katya Janpoladyan with guest artist soprano Marine Chahinian. This performance was dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Buchenwald concentration camp and coincided with the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. Such a weighty theme was handled with sensitivity and grace, making every note resonate with significance. The program showcased masterpieces by Jewish and Armenian composers alongside the world premiere of a composition by the esteemed composer, Dr. Deon Nielsen Price.
This was no ordinary concert. It felt like a solemn yet celebratory gathering, a reminder of resilience through the lens of music. The Beverly Hills Mayor, Ms. Sharona Nazarian was in attendance and graced the audience with a heartfelt speech, praising the contribution to the community.
Beverly Hills International Music Festival Greystone Mansion Veronica Bell’s deft curation of these two concerts not only showcased the talented artists but also demonstrated her dialogue that bridges epochs and communities
Karen Davison-Merrill, DGI
Point of View , May 1, 2025