CONCERT FUND-RAISER TO AID SISTER CITY OF T.O. IN ARMENIA.

Byline: Teresa Jimenez Daily News Staff Writer

To Annabelle Lee Darakjian, it seemed only natural to raise money for Thousand Oaks' sister city in Armenia by sharing a bit of its culture.

Three years and one sold-out show later, Darakjian runs the annual Sister City Committee Armenian-American Cultural Concert. Tonight, Armenian musicians from around the San Fernando Valley will gather to give performances of classical and Armenian music at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.

Proceeds from the concert will go toward helping the residents of Spitak, Armenia. Past fund-raising events helped pay for a new apartment building that now houses 20 families and students on exchange trips, Darakjian said.

``The musicians are really getting a very minimal scale (of pay),'' Darakjian said. ``The rest goes to Spitak. The program we're doing now, we would never be able to afford it. So in a sense they're donating their time.''

The theme of the concert will be ``Faith Journey,'' and a piece by Westlake Village resident Albert Darakjian will be played. Concert pianist Khachik Kyurkchyan and operatic soprano Rima Karapetyan will perform.

Spitak is still recovering from an earthquake that occurred there Dec. 7, 1988. Some residents of the city still did not have electricity as recently as last year.

A local resident of Armenian descent, Michael Hagopian, suggested creating a relationship with Spitak after he made a photo documentary of the area following the earthquake, said Lauren Balekian, who served as liaison between the two cities for several years. Thousand Oaks approved it.

Though the committee has an affiliation with Thousand Oaks, it operates as a nonprofit organization, Balekian said. The executive board is made up of Armenian and non-Armenian residents of the area, she said.

The annual concert has helped bring an Armenian student to Thousand Oaks and send a California Lutheran University student to Armenia.

Residents of both cities benefit from the exchanges because they get the opportunity to learn about different governments and cultures, organizers said.

``When (Armenia) was part of the Soviet Union, they were so cut off from the rest of the world,'' Balekian said. ``We get so much propaganda about them, and they get propaganda about us. The exchanges have helped to clarify a lot of things.''

Balekian said the concert would give residents the opportunity to enjoy good music and learn about the Sister City Committee. ``Hopefully, people will find out what the program is all about,'' Balekian said. ``It's mostly philanthropic work.''

Those interested in the Sister City Committee are encouraged to attend the meetings, held at 6:30 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of each month. For more information, call [phone].

THE FACTS

WHAT: Armenian-American Cultural Concert.

WHEN: 7 p.m. tonight.

WHERE: Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd.

COST: $25, or $15 for youths and children 18 and under.

INFORMATION: Civic Arts Plaza box office, (805) 449-ARTS, or from Sister City Committee members Lauren Balekian, [phone]; or Nora Sahagian, [phone].