Octet Music School Hits the Right Note with Inclusive Education

Arthur Harutyunyan, 15, stands proudly with his peers at the Shishyan Music School of Gyumri (known as Octet), singing the beloved “Makhmur Girl” to open the year-end concert. For Arthur, a first-year student at the Octet Music School who is visually impaired, this moment is more than a performance. It’s a celebration of a year filled with rhythm, melody, and milestones.

Arthur is one of nine students with disabilities who are learning music at the Octet Music School. These young musicians are mastering piano, drum, trumpet, kanon, duduk, and more. They are part of a larger community of 228 students, but their presence marks a significant step forward in inclusive education.

Just a year ago, Arthur began taking drum lessons. A few months later, he started piano. Today, he’s progressing in both drum and piano.

School principal Manya Hovhannisyan opened the concert with pride, highlighting the school’s biggest achievement of the year: welcoming nine children with special needs into the musical fold and building an environment where every child can thrive. “We hope next year this number will grow,” she said.

“I love both the piano and the drum,” Arthur says, just moments before performing Cole Porter’s “You’re the Top,” Aram Khachaturian’s “Dance of the Girls,” and “Orange Boogie” by Manfred Schmitz. “I find the first note by touch, then I play. At first I had help, but now I do it on my own.”

Arthur’s teacher, Gayane Baghdasaryan, sees daily how music empowers her students. “Arthur and Albert study with me. Arthur follows a specialized program, and we’ve made incredible progress,” she says. “He finds the keys by touch and has an amazing ear. He can name any note just by hearing it. We started with scales, moved to etudes and small pieces. He’s now completed the first-grade program.”

We, at FAR, are proud to have helped create an environment where inclusive education can truly thrive. You too, can be part of this transformative change by donating to FAR today. 

Nearly destroyed in the devastating 1988 earthquake, the Octet Music School was forced to operate in temporary containers for years. Witnessing these harsh conditions, Rock Aid Armenia’s founder Jon Dee (he provided string instruments and a piano in 2024), along with legendary musicians Ian Gillan of Deep Purple and Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, rallied support. Partnering with Mediamax, FAR, and the Mardigian Family Foundation, they raised the funds needed to construct a new facility. In 2013, a brand-new school building finally opened its doors, offering a space worthy of the students’ talent and ambition. With the generosity of Edna Galo, a long-time FAR supporter, the school has remained in outstanding condition. In addition, FAR has had the privilege of supporting the education of 61 children with tuition, also facilitating their travel for concerts, and covering their participation in a variety of competitions—all of which contribute to nurturing their talents and meaningful futures.