About me

Armenian-American mezzo-soprano, Alvard Mayilyan has been praised as “having a voice that rings like the Duduk” - an ancient woodwind instrument which produces a darkly rich and expressive tone, long considered the sound of the Armenian soul.

This season, Ms. Mayilyan has several concert engagements. In September, she performed a solo recital of sacred and secular Armenian music in Charlotte, NC. In October, she will appear in the inaugural concert of "Beyond the Loft" series with the Peachtree Staff Singers in Atlanta, GA. In November, Ms. Mayilyan will be performing in a special tribute concert dedicated to Charles Aznavour's 100th Anniversary with Berge Turabian. In December, she will be joining the Gomidas Choir as a guest artist for their "Christmas at the Cathedral" concert at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral in New York. 

Ms. Mayilyan appeared as THIRD LADY in Salt Marsh Opera tour of Magic Flute. In the summer of 2021, Ms. Mayilyan performed the role of EDITTA in the world premiere of Jake Landau’s opera “Pietà,” and LA PRINCIPESSA in Puccini’s “Suor Angelica” at the Narnia Festival in Italy. It was her second appearance at the Narnia Festival, as she debuted as CARMEN in the European premiere of director Andrea DelGiudice’s acclaimed production of “Carmen” in 2019. Other operatic roles include ZITA in “Gianni Schicchi” with Regina Opera Company, and LA PRINCIPESSA in “Suor Angelica” with the New York Lyric Opera Theater. 

She has performed in Europe as well as in her homeland, as MERCEDES in the Festival du 170e Anniversaire de Georges Bizet, in Aix-en-Provence; as SANTUZZA in the Festival Lyrique des Jeunes Chanteurs, in Lyon; as GIORGETTA and LA CIESCA in a gala production of Puccini’s “Il Trittico,” sponsored by the Italian Embassy in Yerevan.

The press praised her artistic versatility, ranging from “haunting” to “light hearted and teasing” for her performances as POLINA in “Pique Dame” and OLGA in “Eugene Onegin” at the Eurasia Festival in the New York City Gala celebrating Russian opera and concert music.

Her singing is featured throughout “Who Is The Victim?”, a film and multimedia presentation about the war in Armenia by Sonia Balassanian, which was sponsored by the Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art, and presented at the Venice Film Festival.

An expert in Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque music, she has performed in early music concerts in Europe and in the United States. Ms. Mayilyan is dedicated to the music of her native Armenia, and is noted for her performances of both sacred and secular selections from this rich cultural heritage.

Prior to relocating to the Atlanta region, she was a soloist at Saint Vartan Armenian Cathedral in New York City, and a guest artist and vocal coach for the Gomidas Choir of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church, in New York City. She also served as the director of the Children’s Choruses of the New Rochelle Opera Company and Regina Opera. 

Since relocating, she has joined the Atlanta Opera Chorus, and performed in their productions of “Madame Butterfly,'' “Don Giovanni,” and “The Pirates of Penzance”.

Presently, Ms. Mayilyan is pursuing a PhD in French Literature, and holds a Master’s Degree in French, from the Linguistics University of Yerevan, and another Master’s Degree in Academic/Opera singing from the Yerevan State Conservatory in Armenia.

 Ms. Mayilyan is a staff singer at the Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta. A performing artist, professor, and early music educator, she believes that “music education is THE key” and teaches voice and piano in her private studio.