Concerts of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Grzhegorz Nowak are already memorable occasions for the Armenian audience. In the meantime, it is difficult to describe the excitement of the underprivileged children who were given the opportunity to meet and practice with the musicians of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra visited Yerevan within the Yerevan Perspectives 11th International Music Festival, organised under the Patronage of the President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan. The British Council cooperated with the Festival within its New Work...New Audiences programme.

Besides of two marvellous concerts in artistic collaboration with the renowned Armenian opera singers Hasmik Papyan (soprano) and Barsegh Tumanyan (bas), the RPO musicians also conducted master classes for the children of Special Music School N13 at the Yerevan State Conservatory.

Brian Thomson (Principal Trumpet), Adam Wright (Second Trumpet and the Vice Chairman of the Board) and Roger Argente (Principal Bass Trombone) worked together with gifted orphans from the School’s Brass Orchestra in an open session organised with the support of Yerevan State Conservatory.

Music School N13 is an unusual school. It was founded for homeless orphans who are also gifted young musicians. The school founded in Sukhumi in 1937 and moved to Yerevan during the World War II.

It was one of the best music schools in the USSR, along with the specialised music schools in Moscow and Leningrad. Although the school today is in need of new instruments, traditions are still being kept alive here. The pupils regularly go on concert tours and participate in competitions.