Although she grew up singing in church, [Isabel Bayrakdarian] earned a degree in biomedical engineering and didn't seriously consider a musical career until she started winning voice competitions. She vaulted to fame after winning Placido Domingo's Operalia contest nine years ago. She has performed in many of the world's top opera houses.

Last fall, she released a CD devoted to Gomidas Vartabed (1869-1935), a revered composer and ethnologist who is credited with saving Armenian folk music from oblivion. "Without him, there would be no Armenian music today," says Bayrakdarian.

"The perpetrator (of the genocide), Turkey, still hasn't accepted responsibility and still denies it. For us, closure hasn't happened yet. So for the Armenian audience... it's like a balm, to hear these songs -- an affirmation that we have survived."