Sergey Smbatyan re-appointed as UNICEF National Ambassador

YEREVAN, 26 January 2026 – Sergey Smbatyan, the Founding Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, the Principal Conductor of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Artistic Director of the Khachaturian International Competition was re-appointed as UNICEF National Ambassador in Armenia on 24 January.

Maestro Smbatyan was first appointed as National Ambassador in 2023 and since then has worked with UNICEF to advocate for positive parenting and early childhood education. In 2025, Maestro Smbatyan visited the newly renovated and refurbished Artashat kindergarten #4 in support of UNICEF’s work to expand access to inclusive early learning services for refugee and host community children.

In 2024, with the support of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, led by Sergey Smbatyan, UNICEF lit up in blue the National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre in downtown Yerevan for the 35th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The symbolic ceremony was followed by the inaugural concert of the 12th Khachaturian International Festival dedicated again to World Children's Day.

In 2023, the Foundation for the Support of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra, led by Maestro Smbatyan, raised funds for UNICEF through seven concerts, enabling the organization to provide multipurpose pharmacy vouchers to refugee children with disabilities. Maestro Smbatyan also met with some of the children and families who received this support.

“We are delighted to renew our partnership with Maestro Sergey Smbatyan as UNICEF National Ambassador,” said Christine Weigand, UNICEF Representative in Armenia. “Over the past years, Maestro Smbatyan has used his voice, his art, and his influence to champion the rights and well-being of every child in Armenia. His commitment to early childhood education, inclusion, and children’s rights in general shows the profound impact that culture and compassion can have when united for a common purpose. We look forward to continuing our work together to ensure that every child, regardless of background or circumstance, has the opportunity to learn, thrive, and reach their full potential.”

“I am pleased to continue supporting UNICEF as National Ambassador. This reappointment shows that our cooperation has been mutually effective, both for me personally and for UNICEF. What matters most to me is that I have yet another opportunity to create value for children. It is also significant that today we are highlighting our ‘Symphonic Tales’ programme, which makes classical music accessible and affordable for children starting from kindergarten. This is an integral part of our educational process, and it will have a long-term impact on the promotion of classical music,” noted Maestro Smbatyan.

The appointment ceremony was followed by a panel discussion on the importance of classical music for young children’s development and in preschool education, entitled ‘Symphonic tales.’ Moderated by Anna Avanesyan, Public TV Parents Meeting show host, the panel featured Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Araksya Svajyan, UNICEF Early Childhood Development Officer Maya Simonyan, Symphonic Das-A head of educational initiatives Tatev Adamyan, Director of Vostan kindergarten in Vagharshapat Lusine Avagyan, and Content and Development Director of Parenting School NGO Lusine Aghabekyan.

As part of the panel, UNICEF and Symphonic Das-A educational programme, established by Maestro Smbatyan, introduced their joint ‘Symphonic Tales’ initiative piloted 2025. With the support of the Government of Japan, partners developed an educational module and a guidebook to encourage young children to explore the world of classical music and art, contributing to their psycho-social wellbeing. The programme has already been tested in five communities around Armenia and will soon be submitted to the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports to be further scaled up across the country.