THE MUSIC FADES: On February 23, at the "Caritas Novrut" clinics, Massachusetts , USA , the world-famous organist of Armenian descent Perch Zhamkochian died, the "Yerkir" newspaper reports on February 25.

Zhamkochian was born into the family of Shakhnaz and Nazaret Zhamkochians in Boston and gave his first concert at the city's Symphony Hall at age 24. Zhamkochian was the first American organist to make a trip of the Soviet Union in 1965. The New York Times included recording of two of his concerts among the 50 best records of all times.

CHURCH IN BELARUS : An Armenian church is shortly to be founded in Belarus , the head of the Armenian community in Belarus Georgy Yeghiazarian stated at a meeting of community representatives with the Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Artur Baghdasarian, Arminfo reported February 26. The Armenian community in Belarus numbers 30,000, has a Sunday school and the dancing group "Erebuni."

CHILDREN'S ART IN BRUSSELS : An exhibition of children's paintings from the Children's Aesthetic Center of Yerevan concludes this weekend in Brussels .

Organized by the Association ARA-BEL, the Assembly of Armenians of Europe (AAE) and the Embassy of Armenia in Belgium, and supported by His Excellency Godfried Daneels, the Cardinal of Brussels and Mechelen, the exhibition presents 75 paintings on Biblical themes by children aged 9 to 15 who study at the Center of Aesthetic Education in Yerevan.

The paintings were on sale with proceeds going to the development of the Center, purchase of materials and the printing of a new Album, this time illustrating the Epic "David of Sasun".

GRAKAN TERT in GEORGIA: After many years' interval, the distribution of "Grakan Tert" ("Literary Newspaper") of Yerevan has resumed in Tbilisi , Georgia . This was achieved through the efforts of Anahit Bostanjian, an Armenian poet living in Tbilisi . Soon it is hoped to make the newspaper available in Javakhk, reported Noyan Tapan February 26.

  ON YEREVAN STAGES

February 27: Yerevan Dramatic Theatre, Sovajon “Chao”, directed by Armen Khandikyan

February 28: Yerevan Dramatic Russian Theatre, Pushkin “Golden Fish”, directed by Alexander Grigoryan

February 28: Komitas Chamber Music Hall , Evening of Classical Music, directed by Aram Gharabekyan