Since the fighting erupted, Hakob Khalatyan has been frequenting bomb shelters in Nagorno-Karabakh's main city Stepanakert playing the traditional kamancheh instrument to lift the spirits of those taking shelter. Khalatyan came to Stepankert five years ago from Yerevan to teach music in one of the local schools. Today he plays compositions of the famous 18th century poet and musician Sayat Nova, as well as other works of traditional Armenian composers as the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan continues.