Isabel Bayrakdarian

About

Dr. Isabel Bayrakdarian is a world-renowned soprano and Professor of Voice at UC Santa Barbara, where she serves as Director of Opera Theatre and Head of Voice Area. Born in Lebanon to an Armenian family and raised in Canada, she graduated cum laude from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Biomedical Engineering in 1997. Just months later, she won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in New York City, launching her international career. In 2000, she won First Prize in Plácido Domingo's prestigious Operalia competition. She holds an Honorary Doctorate from Canada's Wilfrid Laurier University and an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Conservatory of Music. Dr. Bayrakdarian is a four-time Juno Award winner for Best Classical Album (Vocal) and recently received a lifetime achievement prize from the Opera Canada Awards. Her performances and recordings have earned her dozens of awards and she has performed at prestigious venues including the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House, La Scala, and Paris Opera.

Education & Qualifications

Bachelor of Applied Science in Biomedical Engineering from University of Toronto (1997); Honorary Doctorate from Wilfrid Laurier University; Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Conservatory of Music; Winner of Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (1997); First Prize Winner of Plácido Domingo's Operalia Competition (2000)

Teaching Styles