Both musicians are versatile experts of their instrument with a repertoire of different rock varieties to jazz and blues to folk. Gagik counts guitar idols like John Scofield, Steve Vai, Ritchie Blackmore, Allan Holdsworth to his faves. His student Robert is heavily influenced by bands like Radiohead, Muse, The White Stripes and Pink Floyd. Also interesting are their bonds in the traditional Armenian music, which they present with their own arrangements.
 

  
Gagik Arakelyan & Robert Melkumyan (left to right)

Both will be accompanied by choirmaster Nina Grigoryan. Her excellent choir has already realized successful guest performances in France, Spain, Austria and Russia. She will use her time in Dresden to come into contact with Dresdner choirs and choral music. Meetings with Prof. Ekkehard Klemm (College of University of Music Carl Maria von Weber Dresden, artistic director of the Singakademie Dresden) and choirmaster Mr Matthias Grünert of the Frauenkirche have already been planned.
 

 
Nina Grogoryan in front of her choir
 

This activity is part of the project Transkaukazja and is supported by the Cultural Foundation of Saxony, and the programme ‘Wir für Sachsen’.