Hammer Theatre Center presents Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble and Hasmik Harutyunyan together performing "Gorani: Lullabies and Love Songs to Lost Homelands." Hasmik Harutyunyan is the leading member of Shoghaken Folk Ensemble, an acclaimed Armenian musical group performing traditional folk and ashugh (troubadour) music. In October 2010, the Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble traveled from Oakland to Armenia to deepen their study of Armenian folk singing traditions. The all-female group—which specializes in Eastern European women’s vocal traditions—engaged in village expeditions and joint field work with Shoghaken, as well as students and professors from the Komitas State Conservatory. During the visit, Kitka also performed with Shoghaken in a cross-cultural program featuring Armenian lullabies, wedding songs, songs of longing, and songs transcribed by Komitas, as well as Balkan, Greek, and Georgian songs.