USC Friends of Armenian Music establish educational exchange program

Published: Thursday November 12, 2009

USC From left to right - Artemis Belian Bedros, President USC-FAM, Dr. Robert Cutietta, Dean of USC Thornton School of Music, and Audrey Babakhanian Gregor.

The members of the USC Friends of Armenian Music announced a gift agreement establishing the "USC Friends of Armenian Music Audrey Babakhanian Gregor Educational Exchange Program" between the USC Thornton School of Music and Yerevan's Komitas State Conservatory. This agreement was accepted and signed on October 22 by Artemis Bedros, president of USC-FAM, Audrey Babakhanian Gregor, a founding member and past president, and Dr. Robert A. Cutietta, Dean of the Thornton School of Music.

On October 22, Bedros, Gregor, and Cutietta signed a contract for a $200,000 agreement toward an endowment for the exchange program. Bedros presented the dean with the first installment of $30,000 toward the endowment. Additionally, Gregor signed a gift agreement and donated $10,000 to underwrite the inaugural installment of the educational exchange program to take place during the 2010 academic year and to consist of a faculty member from the Komitas State Conservatory who will visit and give lectures at the Thornton School of Music.

The exchange program was made possible through donations received during the 30th anniversary celebration luncheon of the organization. At the luncheon Gregor was honored for her dedication and her 30 years of distinguished service to the organization. Her dream is to promote the Armenian musical heritage by sharing the knowledge and expertise of the professionals and students of Komitas State Conservatory with the musical community of the Thornton School of Music. This signed agreement promises to perpetuate annually indefinitely. We thank every one of our supporters for their valuable contributions to this cause.