Mariam Matossian

Mariam Matossian (born at Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) is a musician specialising in Armenian folk music.

Early life and education

Her Armenian parents spoke their native language in their home, instilling in Matossian a love for Armenian music and culture.

As a young teenager, Matossian commenced over a decade of training in classical voice. After graduating from the University of British Columbia in 1995, she spent seven years as a high school instructor of English Literature and Language Arts, in addition to time as a counsellor.

In 1998 she became the first family member to travel to Armenia since her grandmother, a survivor of the Armenian Genocide, had been deported c. 1915. While there, volunteering for an English-language newspaper, Matossian became informed of the overwhelming plight of Armenian street children. Her involvement with these children culminated in a 2002 leave of absence from her teaching career to work for three months with them.

Musical career