The International Vahagn Stambultsyan Organ Festival — 3rd Edition, 2025

In 2022, the dream of Vahagn Stambultsyan, founder of the Armenian organ school, was realized: an international organ music festival bearing his name was established and held for the first time in Armenia. The festival's next edition took place in 2024, continuing a well-established tradition.

On September 24, 2025, with a concert dedicated to Komitas, the 3rd International Vahagn Stambultsyan Organ Festival began, which  created a high- class organ environment and a vibrant  cultural atmosphere for several months in Armenia.

Within the framework of the festival, Armenia had the honor of hosting internationally recognized organists: Vincent Dubois, titular organist of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris; Jonathan Scott, leading British organist; Juan de la Rubia, principal organist of the Sagrada Família Basilica in Barcelona; and and Rotterdam City Organist Adrian Hoek .

The participation of international musicians in the festival carries deep significance: it creates a platform for the exchange of experience between Armenian and foreign musicians, provides an opportunity  to bring to Armenia the traditions and performance experience of different organ schools, and presents Armenian organ art and the works of our composers to the international community.

A beautiful tradition has already taken shape during  the festival: guest artists conclude their performances with the works of Armenian composers. This tradition was upheld again in 2025 — Vincent Dubois closed his performance with the "Sabre Dance" from Aram Khachaturian's ballet Gayane, Jonathan Scott performed "Shushiki " of Komitas, Juan de la Rubia performed "Khorurd Khorin"  of Komitas, and Adriaan Hoek performed Makar Yekmalyan's "Amen Hayr Surb."

The regional concerts are also an important part t of the festival. In 2025, concerts were held in Kapan and Charentsavan, broadening the geographical scope of the festival and ensuring broad participation in cultural life. In Kapan, representatives of the Armenian organ school performed, including local musicians, while in Charentsavan, Jonathan Scott and Adriaan Hoek performed performed together with Armenian artists.

The festival's official closing took place at the Komitas Chamber Music Hall with a concert dedicated to the 340th anniversary of Johann Sebastian Bach, summarizing the highly artistic musical journey that lasted for several months and promising a new gathering next year.