Soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian Launches East Coast and Canada Tour
NEW YORK — Soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian is set to perform an innovative program in her upcoming concerts in New York City this November. The program, titled Ancestral Songs, Prayers and Lullabies, is inspired by a legacy that began with Gomidas and was continued by his students Parsegh Ganatchian and Mihran Toumajan.
Interview with Isabel Bayrakdarian
In a conversation with Lisa Terrizzi from the Friends of Armenian Cultural Society, the organizer of the Boston concert, Bayrakdarian shared her artistic journey and dedication to Armenian music.
Early Musical Influences
Lisa Terrizzi (L.T.): Did you grow up in a musical household, and what attracted you to vocal music?
Isabel Bayrakdarian (I.B.): My first passion was Armenian sacred music, which remains dear to me. Exploring and performing our ancient hymns has been a deeply personal and spiritual pathway. I was raised in Lebanon, playing piano and singing in our Armenian church choir. Later, in my late teens in Canada, I pursued voice lessons to express my faith through confident singing, supported by solid technique.
"Singing and discovering our beautiful and ancient hymns has been a path forward, inward and upward, making for a uniquely personal journey."
Bayrakdarian’s ongoing mission includes uncovering and sharing the rich treasures of Armenian music with wider audiences.
Isabel Bayrakdarian’s tour highlights the continuity of Armenian musical heritage while showcasing her evolution from a choir girl to an international artist.
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