It was mid-April, when Mr. James Kachian, one of our parishioners, called St. John Church office to inform us that his brother Christopher, guitarist, and Thomas Schönberg, cellist, will be in San Francisco and would like to perform at the Armenian church. With the blessing of our Parish Priest Fr. Mesrop Ash, the concert was scheduled immediately.

Monday July 29, St. John Armenian Church was filled with beautiful music when Dr. Kachian and Dr. Schönberg were practicing before the concert. By 7:30 the church was full with concert lovers. Fr. Mesrop Ash welcomed the guests and introduced the performers by giving a brief history of The Arpeggione Duo, and brief biography of the performers.

It was indeed a memorable concert, The Arpeggione Duo, Dr. Kachian and Dr. Schönberg performed brilliantly on Monday evening at St. John Armenian Church. The program included French Suite No 6 by J.S. Bach which was certainly a deeply spiritual performance, followed by Chinese Folk songs arranged by Dr. Schönberg, which were performed with warmth, and passion.  The Duo KV 423 by W. A Mozart for Violin and Viola was performed by guitar and cello. It was an interesting and technically demanding rendition. The piece was performed in Viennese style, despite of the technical difficulty that Dr. Kachian was experiencing in tuning his guitar due to the weather, they both played the adagio and Rondeau with inviting sounds and transparency.

The last piece on the program was the favorite of the audience, Armenian Dance Suite Yerang, Dance of Vagharshapat and Krunk by Komidas Vartabed, arranged by Arpeggione Duo. Both artists did not have any trouble projecting beautiful and elegant sound. They created expressive melodic lines full of emotion and sensitivity. It was a sheer joy listening to them perform.

Following the performance Fr. Mesrop Ash expressed his heartfelt gratitude on behalf of St. John Family and presented books about Komidas Vartabed, and invited everyone to The Paul Family Hall for a light reception.