On September 4, 2019, Anna and Anahit Mkhitaryan set foot for the first time in the Kharberd Specialized Children’s Home or “The Kharberd Mankatun”.
The residents of the Kharberd Specialized Children’s Home are special needs children and adults with central nervous system diseases, acquired physical and mental disorders and they do not enjoy any kind of family care.
Anna’s and Anahit’s aim of their first visit was to offer the residents of the Mankatun a live performance of Armenian ethnic music. They believe that regardless of the type of health disorders, Armenian music- as music in general- can have a therapeutic effect on the children.
The resonating tones of Anna’s duduk (an ancient Armenian double reed woodwind instrument made of apricot wood) and the rhythmic beats of Anahit’s dhol (a double sided barrel drum) stirred in the children indescribable sensations and emotions. When the music stopped there was only one thought in their minds: “would it be possible for them also to play music and to sing?” Despite the different degrees of mental development, the absence of fingers and vocal chords, limited mobility and breathing problems, Anna and Anahit were sure and they assured the children that they too could play music and sing, and that their music and their songs would be as special and unique as they were. The magic of music gave wings to the children’s souls to reach for the skies where dreams come true. Faith and trust were all that was needed to create the Kharberd Specialized Children’s Home Ethno Band which eventually would be named “Tshakhruk”.