Soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian Kicks Off East Coast, Canada Tour
NEW YORK — Soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian is set to launch her East Coast tour with an inspiring program titled “Ancestral Songs, Prayers and Lullabies.” The performance pays tribute to the musical legacy of Gomidas, whose influence was carried on by his students Parsegh Ganatchian and Mihran Toumajan.
The tour includes concerts in New York City and Boston, among other locations. Speaking with Lisa Terrizzi of the Friends of Armenian Cultural Society, Bayrakdarian reflected on her artistic path, from her early years in a church choir to becoming an acclaimed performer dedicated to preserving Armenian musical heritage.
Interview Highlights
Lisa Terrizzi (L.T.): Did you grow up in a musical household, and what drew you specifically to voice?
Isabel Bayrakdarian (I.B.): My first love was, and still is, Armenian sacred music. Singing and exploring our ancient hymns has been a journey forward, inward, and upward — one that deeply shaped my spiritual and artistic life. I started with piano and sang in our Armenian church choir in Lebanon. Later, when I moved to Canada as a teenager, I began formal voice lessons to learn how to express myself freely and connect with God through confident singing built on strong technique.
Author’s Summary
Isabel Bayrakdarian’s East Coast tour celebrates Armenian musical heritage while highlighting her lifelong devotion to sacred song and the spiritual roots of her artistry.